Toilet twinning is an initiative of Tear Fund. The idea is to pay a certain amount and this goes towards a project in a fairly remote area where villagers are brought together and consider working to improve their lives. They start by making suggestions and working towards projects they think they need. As they gain trust in the project people they are taught about hygiene and the link between defecation in the open and diarrhoea and disease. When they are ready they are then taught how and where to build their own latrines – what we used to call a “long drop” when I lived in Kenya!
In exchange for the money one is sent a certificate to hang in the loo.
Apart from hygiene reasons, having a toilet greatly reduces the risk of women and girls being attacked when defecating in the open. Apparently having a toilet also increases prosperity, as money is not having to be spent at the clinic due to illnesses caused by human waste being left around and by waterborne diseases. My toilet is twinned with one in Zambia. When doing the twinning there is a (limited) choice of countries you can choose to twin your loo with.
Personally, I would cut down some of the vegetation to reduce the possibility of snakes!
It is also possible to twin with a school toilet block. When we were at school we were perpetually complaining about the toilets and the (poor) locks on the doors – but at least we did have toilets. Can you imagine what it would be like without? Is it any wonder that many girls start missing school when they reach puberty?
The whole idea is so simple and so worthwhile that I had to do it!
So? My toilet is twinned!