London school children become ‘hygiene heroes’ fighting for girl’s education

Toilet Twinning is working to tackle this issue by supporting communities and schools to build clean, safe toilets, and providing education on handwashing and menstrual health. This is a mission that UK schools are getting behind, raising vital funds to twin their own school toilets and learn about global water and sanitation issues.

Toilet Twinning is launching a new 'Schools Resource'. The resource helps classes explore the vital role of WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) around the world, offering a handwashing guide, trivia quiz, and lots of fun ways to fundraise, amongst other activities.

A primary school in London recently raised nearly £1000 by getting pupils involved in the Toilet Twinning initiative through awareness raising and fundraising activities. 

Helen Sinclair and Jo Hamblett, Sustainability Leads at St Mary’s and St Peter’s CE Primary School, Teddington said:

 “Children who were part of the ‘Eco Warriors’, a group of 36 students across key stages, began brainstorming ways to raise money for this worthy cause. Pupils designed posters to raise awareness of the campaign. They also fundraised by holding a mufti day, and collecting money after the school's Nativity play and carol concert. It truly felt like a whole-school effort.

Thanks to the enthusiasm and generosity of our school community, the children were extremely proud to have raised a total of £942.85.”

In South Sudan, girls are missing out on education due to lack of access to a safe toilet. Girls like Ritah (16). For a long time there was only one ‘toilet’ at her school, a hole in the ground without solid walls or a proper lockable door. One day, Ritah went to change her sanitary pad and realised a boy from her class was watching her.

Rita said ‘He saw me, so I stopped. He ran away to tell his friends, and they started laughing. I was very embarrassed. I left school that day and never returned until an improved latrine for girls was constructed.’

Through our local partners, Toilet Twinning and Tearfund constructed single-sex latrines in schools and camps for internally displaced people in Central Equatoria, South Sudan.

Ritah continued, ‘We, the girls in this school, are very happy. This is a big change from the first pit latrine to having our own separate washrooms with water and shelter.’

A Year 5 pupil from St Mary’s and St Peter’s said: 

 “Supporting Toilet Twinning made me feel warm inside because it helped our school understand that people in different countries need help to have proper toilets. It also reminded me to be grateful for the things we have. I really enjoyed voting for the photo that would go on our certificates because everyone got to share their opinion. I feel proud of what we have achieved together.”

Stuart Lee, Tearfund’s Director of Global Fundraising and Communications said 

“Projects like this one in South Sudan bring lasting change in the lives of individuals and communities, allowing girls like Ritah to have the future they deserve. 

“I’m so excited that our new resource will help more schools, like St. Mary's and St. Peter's, become ‘hygiene heroes’ and play a vital part in ensuring girls in some of the world’s poorest communities can stay in school and many others have access to a safe and clean space to go to the loo.

To order a school resource contact [email protected], or to twin your toilet, please visit www.toilettwinning.org. 

*https://washdata.org/reports/jmp-2024-wash-schools

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