Who are we? 

We are Kijani, which means 'Green' in Swahili. We are a non-profit, Community Interest Company based in the UK and currently focussed on the development and delivery of biogas toilets.  

Biogas toilets could play a huge role in solving two major problems: 

1. Lack of toilets - 1 in 4 people around the world don't have access to a decent toilet. In addition, water related illnesses kill millions and result millions of lost school days, particularly for girls. 

2. Deforestation and air pollution - Clearing forests for wood and charcoal for cooking is causing deforestation, contributing to the climate and biodiversity crisis. The air pollution released from this type of cooking also contributes to the death of millions of people each year. 

What are Biogas Toilets?

Biogas Toilets are smart yet incredibly simple and sustainable technology. They treat toilet waste in anaerobic digester tanks where micro-organisms break down the waste, killing harmful pathogens and creating two very useful products: 

1. Biogas - a clean gas which can be used for cooking, heating and lighting. It is carbon neutral and completely renewable. 

2. Liquid fertiliser - a nutrient-rich liquid which can be used to grow some crops and flowers. 

Our Biogas Toilet require no water for flushing, and the whole system is completely automatic and powered by gravity, keeping the costs low and maintenance simple.  It is perfect for any off-grid setting, including slums, refugee camps and natural disaster areas.

 Our previous successes:

In 2018, we worked with a UK charity to successfully deliver a new toilet block equipped with 23 biogas toilets at a school in a slum in Nairobi, Kenya. This project provided toilet facilities for over 800 students at the school, and to date has produced over 1 million litres of biogas which has been used safely to cook the children’s school meals. You can watch a short video of this project here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55VxYSmFZ5w   

 Our Aim:

We now want to improve our original design, creating a single, modular toilet unit which can be easily scaled up and rapidly deployed to provide sanitation and cooking facilities to those most in need. 

 What’s the plan?

This project will progress in 3 stages: 

Stage 1: Build a prototype. 

We will build a single biogas toilet prototype in the UK. This will allow us to fine tune and test the design, making sure it is perfect for the delivery in Kenya.

Stage 2: Build two biogas toilet units in Kenya. 

We will then deliver two biogas toilet units in Nairobi, Kenya, which will act as demonstration units. The Stage 2 money will be used for locally-sourced materials and skilled labour in Kenya, supporting the local population and economy. 

Stage 3: Plan the roll out of biogas toilets. 

We will work to scale up the delivery of our biogas toilets in Kenya. This stage will involve confirming suitable locations, such as schools and rural communities, completing the project planning, and implementing the funding strategy to deliver biogas toilets on a much larger scale where they are most needed. 

How much will it cost?

We have recieved some funding already for Stage 1. The remaining funding required is as follows:  

• Stage 1 (UK prototype): £1,000
• Stage 2 (2 x Kenya demonstration units): £4,000
• Stage 3 (Facilitating large-scale roll out): £1,500

 Total: £6,500

We are really passionate about this project and the huge benefits it will bring to some of those most in need. Every contribution you make has a direct impact on people’s lives. Please help us make this a reality. Thank you so much for your support. 

For further information, please see our website https://kijani.org.uk/

Thank you.