On World Toilet Day, November 19, 2015, I'll be participating in THE BIG SQUAT, an event designed to create awareness of the fact that 1 in 3 people on the planet lack access to improved sanitation, and to raise funds to construct new Boys & Girls latrines at a primary school in rural Ethiopia.

During THE BIG SQUAT, I'll be joining other squatters in literally "sitting down for a cause!" To highlight the need for safe toilets and an open defecation free (ODF) environment, we'll be sitting on toilets in public for ONE HOUR along a busy street in Willow Glen. The event will take place between the hours of noon and 7:00 pm on World Toilet Day.

Today, over 2.3 billion people do not have a safe and private toilet. Without toilets in SCHOOLS, children are left to defecate in the open. This makes them vulnerable to diarrheal illnesses and causes them to miss lessons. Girls in particular are affected by a lack of private toilets, and often drop out completely when they start menstruation. Recruiting teachers into schools without decent sanitation is also difficult.

The Spring of Hope WASH Project will change this for 460 CHILDREN at the Gosu Kora Primary School in rural Ambo town, Ethiopia. YOU can help!

Would you consider making a DONATION in support of my efforts to raise awareness about the need for improved sanitation and to raise funds for the construction of new latrines at the Gosu Kora Primary School? You can use the green "Donate to this Fundraiser" buttons at the top or bottom of this page to make a TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION. Thank you so much!!

  
PROJECT BACKGROUND INFORMATION
   
The current latrines at the school are completely inadequate for a school of this size (2 stalls for 460 students), and even lack doors for privacy (see photo below).

The new latrines will feature a separate block consisting of 5 regular stalls and 1 handicap accessible stall for each gender, for a total of 12 stalls (see drawing).

Many children with disabilities do not attend school for want of an accessible toilet. Children with disabilities often report that they try to drink and eat less to cut down the number of times they need to go to the toilet, especially if they have to ask someone to help them. The two larger handicap accessible stalls (one for each gender) will be used exclusively by those with physical impairments and equipped with raised toilet seats.

The girls latrine block will also include a wash room with running water to facilitate menstrual hygiene management (MHM). Without a clean and private toilet, menstruating girls often miss school due to pain, or embarrassment. Over time, this can impact their education and after years of struggling without toilets, menstruation can push them to drop out altogether. Education about menstruation and simple, hygienic facilities to manage menstruation can help keep girls in school and change their futures. 

Each block will also have a hand washing station (see drawing), as well as a small water reservoir to hold water in case of a service interruption from the municipal supply.

The total cost of this improved sanitation and hygiene project is $34,168.00.
We need YOUR help to construct these new Boys & Girls latrines at the school! Please use the green button below to make a TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION today. Finally, a reason to "throw your money down the toilet" and do some good! Thank you!