Yesterday was World Toilet Day. I’m sure Hallmark has a card but this is one holiday they didn’t create. In America, we might acquaint the recognition of this day by remembering a filthy bathroom or thinking of the time you had to share with dorm mates in college. But in India, no funds, no space, and no education on the importance of hygiene equals no toilet. And of course no sink.
I met a family this week with a mother, father, grandparents and a 16 year old son. Until one month ago, this family didn’t have a toilet. The government sold the family a squatting plate (imagine a port-o-potty toilet seat that you squat on) but didn’t give them any resources or education to dig a proper pit, built a shelter, or provide handwashing. So the family set the squatting plate by the lake without a hole and did their business there. Feces went directly into the same water that other neighbors used for dish cleaning. No problem right?
A month ago it was determined that the grandparents no longer had the ability to walk to the pond several times a day and instead they were openly defecating by their home. So the parents got in touch with Water For People and our partner Rural Aid and requested a loan for $50 to build one of the first 17 latrines in the village of 256 families. The family now reports health benefits associated with their very clean latrine. Not to mention they are the talk of the village.
This is one example of the 2.5 billion people without a toilet.

