Every day, billions of people rely on something many of us rarely think twice about: a toilet. Yet for 3.5 billion people worldwide, a safe and dignified toilet is still out of reach. On 19 November, we join the global community in celebrating World Toilet Day, a moment to highlight why toilets and the sanitation rights they represent, matter for everyone.

This year, we are proud to work alongside the Watoto Program to shed light on how communities living in poverty are disproportionately affected by inadequate sanitation. Sanitation is a human right, but for many rural and urban informal settlements, safe and accessible toilets are still far from guaranteed. The consequences are serious: increased disease, unsafe living conditions, and daily risks that no child should face.

A Toilet Is Safety, Dignity, and Health. Toilets aren’t just fixtures—they are essential tools for protecting both people and the environment. Safe sanitation prevents contamination of water sources, reduces illness, and provides privacy and dignity. For children, especially girls, toilets can be the difference between attending school or staying home.

The Watoto Program operates in Kibera, the largest urban slum in Africa, where nearly 2 million people live in conditions defined by extreme poverty. Here, the lack of safe sanitation poses daily dangers for children and their families. Through the Watoto Academy, children gain access not only to education and meals, but also to safe, clean, and well-maintained sanitation facilities—including toilets that protect their health and dignity. For many children in Kibera, this is the first time they have reliable access to such essential services.