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They're No. 1 in No. 2s

Latrine makers to share story of success

By: Nick Martin

Posted: 10/19/2010 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

Cordell Jacks and Tamara Baker, who sell latrines in Cambodia, speak today at the Asper School of Business. (BORIS.MINKEVICH@FREEPRESS.MB.CA)

See for yourself

World Bank video on Tamara Baker's and Cordell Jacks' project:

More info and pictures can be found at the IDE Cambodia website:

They're returning in triumph to their old school as swashbuckling free enterprisers who absolutely totally rule the limitless world of latrines.

Cordell Jacks and Tamara Baker graduated from the Asper School of Business not very long ago aspiring to climb the corporate ladder.

This morning, they'll tell eager and likely adoring business students how they've not only made a bundle in a land in which no one has much money, but are doing so while fighting disease and environmental disaster in rural Cambodia.

"We're both Asper grads. This will be our first time (returning as successful business people) -- we're very excited," said Baker.

Excited indeed.

He graduated in 2003 to go into financial services, she in 2006 to enter marketing and advertising. Pretty typical so far.

But when International Development Enterprises Canada received their resumés, the pair got an offer they could refuse -- but didn't.

Go to rural Cambodia and make a dent in the global problem affecting 2.5 billion people who don't have hygienic sanitation. Or get a cubicle in a corporate tower somewhere and work your way towards the corner executive offices.

IDE told the pair, said Jacks with a laugh: "We want you to take the most unsexy product, latrines, and sell it to people who have very little money."

The lack of sanitation, and resulting disease and water contamination are rampant in rural Cambodia, where more people have cell phones than have toilets.

Over three months the pair designed a latrine of a concrete box under a toilet, a length of pipe and three concrete rings stacked on each other to create a holding pit. The contents eventually become compost to fertilize farm fields.

All of that costs a family $30, a significant sum for Cambodians.

"They're manufactured locally in rural Cambodia" by entrepreneurs who bought into the idea, said Jacks. "It spread like wildfire."

Families now have their first toilets, water sources are cleaner, the waste leads to more crops, and manufacturers are creating jobs. Just getting concrete toilets to consumers has inspired entrepreneurs, Jacks said: "Cambodia turns into a lake for half a year, the roads are bad," but the local businesses find a way.

Baker and Jacks will tell Asper business students all about it this morning at 11:30 a.m.

They'll tell students that being green and helping underdeveloped countries and promoting social development can be profitable.

They'll offer business and career advice, maybe even dispense some privy counsel.

"It opens the eyes to a lot of business students that they can be working in development," he said. "Your skill set is perfectly suited to having a global impact on health and sustainability."

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 19, 2010 A2

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