Trockentoiletten für ein Dorf in Indien

The humble toilet is usually a humorous topic and taken for granted by those of us who have always enjoyed ready access to them. If you live in a less developed region where basic sanitary infrastructure is not available, the lack of a modern toilet means that at least one of your children will probably die from a disease caused by improper disposal of human waste. You also do not enjoy the luxury and, for women and children, the safety of having a private place to take care of a very basic human necessity.

In the 1960s, I lived in an area of southwestern Taiwan where public toilets were not readily available, and the native population often relieved themselves by the side of the road or in the middle of a field, in full view of passersby. This experience gave me a deep appreciation for the infrastructure in my country that I used to take for granted.

I applaud GTO and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for their efforts in raising awareness about the millions of inhabitants of this planet who do not have access to adequate sanitation. Bodily functions are not a very popular or pleasant topic for most people, however, the modern toilet is a device that has the power to save millions from disease, and it can restore human dignity to those who have never had access to an appropriate place to go. Please consider donating to this project or others whose aim is to provide appropriate sanitary facilities and education about the importance of establishing good personal sanitation practices.