By the Water and Sanitation Rotarian Action Group (Wasrag)
Sanitation has been a focus for Rotary since it’s early years. In fact, the very first Rotary service project, implemented in 1907 in Chicago, was the construction of public toilets (often referred to as comfort stations during that time)! In the early years of the Water and Sanitation Rotarian Action Group, our focus was on just water. Today, we know sanitation and hygiene education is just as important, maybe even more so.
Everyone visits the toilet several times a day. It’s a basic human need, but 2.4 billion people don’t have access to a toilet. The impact of inadequate or no sanitation is devastating, especially on women. One in three women worldwide risk shame, disease, harassment and even attack because they have nowhere safe to go to the toilet. Nearly 526 million women have no choice but to go to the toilet in the open. Women and girls living without toilets spend approximately 97 billion hours each year finding a place to go.
Today, World Toilet Day, take action and help us spread the word. Encourage your club and district to get involved by supporting a sanitation project:
- Find a project on Wasrag’s website or Rotary Ideas
- Share about projects you have already implemented on Rotary Showcase
- Read the Guide to WASH in Schools to learn about creating healthier communities while improving school enrollment and attendance by bringing sanitation and hygiene services to schools
- Organize a water, sanitation, or hygiene (WASH) education project in your community. Contact us for help conducting a community assessment to determine local WASH priorities, or for help developing and implementing a club or district WASH project
Wasrag is an international group of Rotarians, their family members, program participants and alumni with expertise and passion in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Wasrag advises on club and district WASH projects while offering a wealth of resources for enhancing initiatives. Visit www.wasrag.org to access resources, become a member, or request assistance.
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Related:
Service in Action 
Reblogged this on shanakyar.
I am sorry for saying so,it appears joining WASRAG is exclusively for only Rotarians of USA/Canada. f you look at the “sign up” only addresses of USA of Canada are acceptable!!!!!
Dear John – We are sorry to hear you are having trouble joining WASRAG. Membership is open to all Rotarians, their family members, program participants and alumni all over the world. Please email us at rotary.service@rotary.org and we would be happy to connect you with WASRAG.
“Nearly 526 million women have no choice but to go to the toilet in the open”..As a woman It’s so much painful to heard about this. We are here talking about bathroom renovation after a few month for avoiding monotonous impression but 526 million women have no choice instead of toilet in the open air. Feeling shame for that. Thanks WASRAG for such a project and I must share this for growing more awareness about the issue.