This project includes the planning, designing, and
present implementation of a humanitarian engineering
project named Simple Seat, Better Lives. The goal of this
project is to address the problem concerning the use of pit
latrines in Uganda, specifically Lira, by individuals who
have been handicapped by landmines. The objective is to
design portable, low-cost assistive devices that solve
physical and socially stigmatic problems for handicapped
individuals using a pit-latrine and be constructed in Uganda,
by Ugandans. The project began in 2015, with the primary
involvement and activities being designing and constructing
prototypes. In January 2016, three prototypes were taken to
Uganda to receive feedback and design revisions from the
actual future users of the devices, handicapped Ugandans.
Currently, the project is finalizing multiple designs for
implementation and realization. The economic plan includes
a livelihood support stipend to train Ugandans at a vocational
school so that they can acquire the skills necessary in order
to produce these devices. Landmine survivors can
subsequently construct and sell the devices to attain financial
independence. The project’s design constraints include
economic, engineering, and social limitations. The skills
necessary for similar endeavors are adaptability, cultural
sensitivity, and continual maintenance and reinforcement of
project vision and goals.