Future Generations

By the time you finish reading this, at least one child under the age of 5 has died from diarrhea. More than 3.4 million people, mostly children, die every year due to lack of access to clean hygienic sanitation facilities; 99% of these deaths occur in the developing world. It is no surprise that the toilet is often regarded as the most important medical advancement in modern times. (WHO, 2019).

Knowledge

Our key learning over the years is that only a used toilet is worth building. This issue is not only a matter of access, but rather behaviour change. Of the 2.5 billion people that don’t have a toilet, 1.1 billion of them defecate in the open.  Infrastructure  being built must be culturally acceptable, accessible and affordable. Thus we focus our attention on education and the transfer of knowledge (WHO, 2019).

We provide the tools and resources so people can build their own toilets and claim ownership.

A Girl’s Education

Our journey began in 2013 while our founding team was working at a primary school in Lauke, Nepal. It was apparent that young adolescent girls were absent during menstruation because of a lack of toilets. Among the many reasons we do what we do, keeping girls in school is at the top.

Globally, about half the girls worldwide attend schools without a toilet, meaning dropping out of school is a very high possibility. They are forced to miss out on educational opportunities once they hit puberty, becoming trapped in a cycle of poverty (UNICEF, 2019). 

Women’s rights

Our project would not be successful without the leadership and strength shown by women in the communities we work in. After all, we are only here thanks to them. However, all over the world, women and girls are given the short end of the stick. In many societies, they have to wait until nighttime to use sanitation facilities, and are subject to harassment and abuse as a result.

Focusing on knowledge transfer to the women and mothers of these communities,  ensures that proper hygiene and sanitation occurs at home. Toilets close to home means they don’t have to walk far to maintain their dignity. 

Social Justice

Hygiene, safe sanitation and clean water is a basic human right. A solution exists for those who can afford it. Advanced sanitation systems do exist and it is a privilege. The discrepancy is not technology, but justice. We believe that simple solutions through community empowerment, global awareness and working alongside people in leadership - this is possible. Toilets are not just about having a safe and clean place to go -the connections to all aspects of life are clear cut.