Happy Belated World Toilet Day!!!
You’ve heard of World AIDS day, World Women’s day, but World Toilet day?? I’m sure you’re wondering, ‘What would someone celebrate on World Toilet day?’ The toilet is a very underappreciated, and in my line of work, a very important structure. In order to achieve WaterAid Zambia’s goal of reducing the incidence of diarrhoeal disease, people have to have access to clean, adequate water, practice good hygiene, and yes, use a toilet/latrine. If one of these 3 components is missing, the benefits of the other two can not be realized. Therefore, a toilet IS as important as access to water, according to WaterAid. And since there’s a World Water day, why shouldn’t there be a World Toilet day?
In Monze, World Toilet day was celebrated in a village called Mavwili. We have been implementing our programme through the District Council in Mavwili since 2006. Up until last year, the people of Mavwili were drinking water from a nearby stream (the same one used by livestock and people washing their clothes) and defecating in the open bush. By the end of 2006, they were collecting water from a newly constructed borehole and their village had achieved 100% sanitation coverage – a huge feat. It was decided that Mavwili should be the location for our World Toilet Day celebrations since it represents a model situation for other villages.
The Monze District Council coordinated the day with the support of other WaterAid partners. I travelled to the site in the back of a 4x4 over some rough terrain. By the time we reached Mavwili, my whole backside was aching, but I was happy to see the preparations made by the village. They had erected a tent, plastered the brick fencing around the new hand pump, and even painted their latrines, inside and out. Unfortunately, as often happens in the field, the events started about 3 hours late. Before the main speakers arrived, though, we were lucky enough to have a famous local band provide us with some entertainment, complete with live dancing.
The rest of the day went something like this: a visit to some nearby households to look at their latrines, speeches by members of Council, WaterAid, Headmen and the Paramount Chief of Monze, and skits performed by local drama clubs about the importance of sanitation. Everyone was treated to lunch prepared by local people from the area. The pots used for the nshima were enormous. It took 3 people to properly stir, and they even had to do it in shifts! I tried, but failed horribly. The nshima in the village is my favourite. The maize is less refined, and therefore healthier than the ‘white’ mealie meal you buy in town. I asked to buy some of this mealie meal from the people. They looked at me as though I was crazy. I was a visitor to their home, and there was no way they would accept money from me for something like mealie meal! Many of the most generous people I’ve met are from the villages where I’ve worked, people that could have actually really used money for their products. But in Tongan culture, a guest will be treated as a guest for as long as they stay, and they will never be asked to contribute or to leave. It’s a way of life I’ve become accustomed to, although it took some time.
World Toilet Day was celebrated November 19th. If you’re curious, there’s even a World Toilet Organization – the same people responsible for creating this day.
You’ve heard of World AIDS day, World Women’s day, but World Toilet day?? I’m sure you’re wondering, ‘What would someone celebrate on World Toilet day?’ The toilet is a very underappreciated, and in my line of work, a very important structure. In order to achieve WaterAid Zambia’s goal of reducing the incidence of diarrhoeal disease, people have to have access to clean, adequate water, practice good hygiene, and yes, use a toilet/latrine. If one of these 3 components is missing, the benefits of the other two can not be realized. Therefore, a toilet IS as important as access to water, according to WaterAid. And since there’s a World Water day, why shouldn’t there be a World Toilet day?
In Monze, World Toilet day was celebrated in a village called Mavwili. We have been implementing our programme through the District Council in Mavwili since 2006. Up until last year, the people of Mavwili were drinking water from a nearby stream (the same one used by livestock and people washing their clothes) and defecating in the open bush. By the end of 2006, they were collecting water from a newly constructed borehole and their village had achieved 100% sanitation coverage – a huge feat. It was decided that Mavwili should be the location for our World Toilet Day celebrations since it represents a model situation for other villages.
The Monze District Council coordinated the day with the support of other WaterAid partners. I travelled to the site in the back of a 4x4 over some rough terrain. By the time we reached Mavwili, my whole backside was aching, but I was happy to see the preparations made by the village. They had erected a tent, plastered the brick fencing around the new hand pump, and even painted their latrines, inside and out. Unfortunately, as often happens in the field, the events started about 3 hours late. Before the main speakers arrived, though, we were lucky enough to have a famous local band provide us with some entertainment, complete with live dancing.
The rest of the day went something like this: a visit to some nearby households to look at their latrines, speeches by members of Council, WaterAid, Headmen and the Paramount Chief of Monze, and skits performed by local drama clubs about the importance of sanitation. Everyone was treated to lunch prepared by local people from the area. The pots used for the nshima were enormous. It took 3 people to properly stir, and they even had to do it in shifts! I tried, but failed horribly. The nshima in the village is my favourite. The maize is less refined, and therefore healthier than the ‘white’ mealie meal you buy in town. I asked to buy some of this mealie meal from the people. They looked at me as though I was crazy. I was a visitor to their home, and there was no way they would accept money from me for something like mealie meal! Many of the most generous people I’ve met are from the villages where I’ve worked, people that could have actually really used money for their products. But in Tongan culture, a guest will be treated as a guest for as long as they stay, and they will never be asked to contribute or to leave. It’s a way of life I’ve become accustomed to, although it took some time.
World Toilet Day was celebrated November 19th. If you’re curious, there’s even a World Toilet Organization – the same people responsible for creating this day.
Hope this finds you healthy and thoughful. Lots of love.
Jenn
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