These new latrines will prevent human waste from spreading through the villages during flooding, contaminating drinking water. Two latrines are built in each village to be used on a rotating annual basis. When a latrine is not being used, its contents can be dug out and used as fertilizer.

"(The project) is going to provide a lot of help in the future," said Mozambique native and Care for Life member Gil Huo. "Right now the people make a hole and use some sticks to put on top. When it's raining, it just collapses."

The student team worked on the project for eight months at BYU, and recently traveled to Mozambique where they spent eight days teaching local members of Care for Life how to build both the bricks and latrines. Local Care for Life representatives are now able to go from village to village teaching others how to build the structures.

"By the time we left, Care for Life had 100 percent of the teaching role," May said. "We worked in eight villages and by the time we were in the eighth village we were standing on the side watching."

Wright said the experience was life-changing.

"It was interesting seeing the impact people can have. We have so many skills here. If we just go and try to apply those we can help people so much, even with something as simple as sanitation," he said. "I want to make sure I keep doing things like this."

Team members include Geddes, Wright, Boyd Black, Christopher DeLange, Clark Skousen and Matthew Blank.

e-mail: mhaddock@desnews.com