Toilets and Education

Three of many girls receiving TEMBO sponsorship.

No matter where you travel in Africa, the same thing is true:

Adequate sanitation encourages children to be at school, particularly girls. Access to latrines raises school attendance rates for children: an increase in girls’ enrolment can be attributed to the provision of separate, sanitary facilities.

World Health Organization (WHO) 

In the news this week we learned how the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is taking action to fund a solution that addresses a problem affecting the health of so many people throughout the world. They held a Reinvent the Toilet fair and awarded a grant to the California Institute of Technology for coming up with a winning design that met these requirements: it runs without the use of water, electricity, or a septic system; it operates at a cost of no more than 5 cents a day; and it captures energy or other resources. This is part of an impressive larger strategy the foundation has set out. The fair has stimulated a lot of conversation that shows the widespread interest in finding realistic alternatives to both the lack of toilets and adequate sanitation in developing countries. 

Some UN statistics

As an organization that sponsors so many girls and young women for education and micro-business opportunities in rural Tanzania, TEMBO is keenly aware of the difficulties girls face. Toilet facilities are lacking in traditional settings like Kimokouwa. It's a sensitive enough issue for girls in the developed world to sometimes go to school when they are menstruating. Try managing this where there are no toilet facilities or where toilets are shared with boys. At the impoverished and resource-lacking Kimokouwa Primary School, where many of our sponsored girls come from, facilities are very poor. Many other rural schools throughout Tanzania find themselves in the same situation. As a result of very poor hygiene, sickness abounds. This contributes to absenteeism that results in very poor grades.

I am delighted to see that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is funding so many different initiatives related to overall health and sanitation around the world, including in various districts in Tanzania. They are working through the World Bank's Water and Sanitation Program and the winning design in the 2012 Reinvent the Toilet fair is already being tested in South Africa. 

It's so important to see the connection between things like basic sanitation and education. And it's crucial to work with the local residents to come up with a design that meets their needs if we want to be successful. The Community-led Total Sanitation model that originated in Bangladesh 10 years ago, and is now being used by the Gates Foundation, involves villagers, entrepreneurs, and governments working together. You can read more in the strategic overview, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene. It's worth the read and our support.

Be Inspired

Some TEMBO sponsored girls who attended TEC - TEMBO English Camp - in 2010.

Dear TEMBO Trust Secondary School Sponsored Girls -

I know many of you in places like Longido may not be aware that the Olympics are taking place in London right now due to a lack of electricity or TV. The athletes are doing some pretty amazing things and I wanted to share one of them with you today. It's about a 16 year old girl named Gabby Douglas.

Gabby's story is printed here in the New York Times. The important thing I want you to know is that this very young athlete has become the first African American woman to win an Olympic Gold Medal in Gymnastics. This was no small accomplishment and Gabby had to make many sacrifices to reach her goal. Most of all, she had to gain confidence and to believe in herself. She told herself during the competition, "Believe, don't fear, believe."

16 year old, Gabby Douglas: "Believe, don't fear, believe."

Gabby knows she is now an inspiration to so many young girls all over the world and I wanted you to be some of those girls. You may not want to be a gymnast, and you have dreams and goals of your own. The message here is simply BELIEVE IN YOURSELF and have confidence that you can overcome whatever obstacles you find on the path between you and your goal. For you this might be just staying in school, or saying 'no' to marrying young and having a child. Keep your focus on your goal to finish Secondary School, then take the next step to learn something after Secondary School. Then, the next step will be clear. You can do it.

Good luck as you continue Term II studies at different schools in Longido District. I will end with another question I found today - I think it's a good one, not just for you, but for people of all ages.