November 19th is no ordinary day; it’s the day we come together to celebrate the unsung hero of our daily lives – the toilet! Yes, you heard it right, World Toilet Day is here. Toilets are perhaps something a lot of us take for granted, but many people around the world still don’t have access to safe toilet facilities. So, World Toilet Organisation created this worldwide day in 2001 to raise awareness of the global sanitation crisis.
Why is sanitation so important?
Sanitation is a big deal for all of us. Having access to proper sanitation means we can stay healthy and avoid diseases from the spread of bacteria and germs. It’s also crucial for the environment, to keep our waters clean and preserve our planet’s natural beauty.
Where does our waste go?
What exactly happens to your poo once you flush it? In the UK, your waste goes down the drain pipe and into a sewer pipe under the road. The sewer pipes then take it to a treatment centre. The treatment centre processes and cleans the waste, sending the poo to a big tank that turns it into fertiliser for farmers to use.
But not every country has the ability to do this and does not have proper sanitation. Around 3.5 billion people live without access to safely managed toilets, which is why World Toilet Day is so significant.
World Toilet Day theme
This year’s theme is all about accelerating change. The world is not working fast enough to solve the global sanitation crisis. The goal of achieving safe water and toilets for all by 2030 seems to be getting harder to reach. So, the focus this year is about speeding up the progress and getting back on track.
To symbolise this message, a hummingbird has been chosen. But why a hummingbird? It relates to an old tale about a bird carrying tiny droplets of water in its beak to put out a massive fire. It’s a reminder that even the smallest actions can make a big difference.
How you can get involved
World Toilet Day is about raising awareness and taking action. It’s vital to spread the word about the importance of sanitation and hygiene for all. The more people know about it, the better the chance of accelerating change. To take action, you can donate to charities, such as Toilet Twinning, that provide sanitation facilities and education to communities around the world. They carry out some incredible work, actively helping to accelerate change and battle the global sanitation crisis. To donate to this amazing cause or find out some more information, visit the Toilet Twinning website.
Will you join the mission to accelerate change?
