The Toilet Project: Fundraising to Build Washrooms for Rural Schools

My goal is to ensure that female students at a government run school in Dharampur, India are provided with necessary sanitation facilities during their stay at school. I will be fundraising in order to reconstruct a washroom facility at this school, and will be working with the Rotary Club of Surat ((http://www.rotaryclubofsurat.org/) to carry out this project.

Background on the Issue

Most of us are aware that girls are often excluded and face disadvantages when it comes to receiving an education, however we fail to recognize less obvious factors keeping girls from being educated, such as the lack of sanitation facilities and running water. “In 60 countries in the developing world, more than half of primary schools have no adequate water facilities and nearly two thirds lack adequate sanitation (UNICEF).” Along with a lack of sanitation facilities, many schools also lack essential toiletries needed for sanitation, particularly soap. This negatively impacts our development as a society. There are compelling benefits associated with girls’ education, including improvement of the economy’s growth and productivity, as well as lower maternal and child mortality rates.

Government run schools in India often do not have the necessary sanitation facilities for their students. Female students are the most negatively impacted, with approximately 45% of girls not having access to a toilet at school. This negatively impacts their education. Girls often resort to using nearby fields and risk being harassed by local workers. A direct correlation between dropping out of school and lacking a washroom facility has been identified, and it is vital that we work towards improving the sanitation facilities available in schools located in developing countries.

Project Details

I will be needing around $5000 HKD in order to carry out the construction of the washroom, along with the accompanying infrastructure such as septic tanks. The school is located in Dharampur, India, and is one of the few that have been adopted by the local Rotary club. After fundraising, I will be working closely with Rotary to identify a local contractor, negotiate terms, payment schedules and the time of the construction, which will hopefully begin in late March depending on fundraising.

I would greatly appreciate any donations from you. Funds from you will go a long way towards educating and improving school facilities for these children! Thank you for your time.