On 31st March 2005 Ecologia Trust received a grant to build Reedbeds for biological wastewater treatment at Kitezh and Orion under the auspices of Small Environmental Projects Scheme, Russia (SEPS-3).
The project was funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and managed by the British Council. The project was completed in October 2006.
This project provides an innovative and ecological approach to the problem of how to deal with troublesome wastewater that typically pollutes the surrounding countryside, rivers and streams. The average person living in Kitezh uses 150 litres of water per day. For 70 people, 10,500 litres have to be cleaned every day. Now Kitezh and Orion can demonstrate a clean, natural alternative to this eternal, difficult and unpleasant problem.
Wastewater from the houses in Kitezh is cleaned through the wetland. The water comes from an underground well and is stored in a water tower. Water flows from the houses to the septic tank and then enters the wetland. The aerobic and anaerobic bacteria that live on the roots of the plants and on the gravel break down the nitrogen, suspended solids, and disease causing bacteria. The plants bring oxygen into the water and absorb pollutants. After this process is finished, the treated water that flows out of the wetland will not pollute the land, ground water or streams.
Please contact us if you would like a copy of the Manual that accompanies the Reedbed system.
Join our dedicated team of volunteers and experience the joy of giving back, while making a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals and the community
Your contribution has the power to make a difference in the lives of those in need, enabling us to continue our vital work and create positive change
“Building a world where every young person thrives.”
Ecologia Youth Trust supports children and young people to shape their futures sustainably. Keep up to date with our activities and projects by following us on social media!
Subscribe to our emails today to receive our latest news, updates, and inspiring stories.
*Names have been changed according to our child protection policy.
Subscribe to our emails today to receive our latest news, updates, and inspiring stories.
Susie has 30+ experience as a creative copywriter, editor, and proofreader, starting out as a 20-year-old copywriter in the Mad Men world of early 1990s advertising in South Africa. Ever since, she’s had a love affair with creative conceptualisation, thinking outside of the box, writing to a deadline, and being thrown in the deep end!
She took an MSc in Publishing at Edinburgh Napier University as a mature student, in 2015, and continues to keep herself busy working as a copy-editor, proofreader and copywriter in book publishing, corporate communications, and publishing project management.
Apart from her love of working with independent authors, Susie has a fondness for working in the third sector and likes to use her corporate communications and marketing experience to support projects close to her heart. She has lived and worked in the Findhorn area for 25 years, and has been involved in a number of third sector projects and organisations, and family businesses.
Working at Ecologia Youth Trust helps Susie to live in integrity with her values of supporting the next generation to be the best that they can be, and she sees it as a way to give back to Mama Africa, the beloved continent on which she was born.
Ellen joined the Ecologia team in June 2018 as Marketing and Communications Manager. Ellen has lived in Scotland for 6 years and has worked for non-profit and charitable organisations across varied fields. She currently shares her passion for helping young people through Ecologia Youth Trust and she works as a dancer and dance teacher in her spare time.
Robyn is the Associate Director of International Projects, having previously worked within the team as a Project Development and Marketing Officer from April 2019 until May 2021. As Associate Director, Robyn is co-leading the International side of Ecologia with Founder and Director, Liza Hollingshead, bringing a new energy into Ecologia as they look towards the future of the charity.
Liza is the founder of Ecologia and Director of International Projects. She was born and educated in South Africa and worked there as a high school teacher. She moved to live in the Findhorn Community in 1974. She started Ecologia in 1995 after being introduced to Dmitry Morozov, the founder of Kitezh Children’s Community in Russia, and was inspired to support the community in its mission to rescue orphaned children from institutions and give them homes, families and education in a supportive environment.
This led to projects supporting disadvantaged youth and children in South East Asia and in East Africa. TRead more about Liza’s story here.
