Monday, November 02, 2009 – Friday, November 06, 2009
2.5 billion people worldwide do not have access to proper sanitation which risks their health, strips their dignity, and kills 1.8 million people, mostly children, a year. Sanitation is one of the most important factors to healthy living, and possibly one of the most neglected. This week, we are recognizing this need and have focused on five organizations that are working towards developing low cost sanitation solutions.
Monday, November 19, 2009
Social Enterprise of the Day – WaterAid
WaterAid’s aim is to overcome poverty by enabling the world’s poorest to gain access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene education. Realizing that 2.5 billion people worldwide live without this essential service and that the resulting diarrheal diseases kill almost 5,000 children a day, WaterAid conducts pioneering research in the area of sanitation.
Tuesday, November 20, 2009
Social Enterprise of the Day – ASKNet
ASKNet or the African Sanitation Knowledge Network aims to contribute to the mainstreaming and up-scaling of sustainable sanitation in Africa, to the benefit of livelihoods, health, and the environment. Through conferences and networking events organized across the world, ASKNet is paving the way for sustainable sanitation solutions.
Wednesday, November 21, 2009
Social Enterprise of the Day – Sulabh International
Sulabh International is one of India’s leading NGOs working towards providing affordable sanitation facilities to the masses. During the past 30 years, Sulabh has succeeded in liberating a large number of scavengers from the demeaning practice of physically cleaning and carrying human waste. In addition, Sulabh has set up about 1.3 million pour-flush toilets with bathing facilities.
Thursday, November 22, 2009
Social Enterprise of the Day – Saraplast
Sara Plastics is a company based in Pune, India that manufactures portable toilets, among other plastic products. The toilet cubicles and urinals are easy to clean and dispose waste and are towable by hand with wheels for easy mobility.
Friday, November 23, 2009
Social Enterprise of the Day – Ecotact
Developer of the Ikotoilet, Ecotact is an organization inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s words “Sanitation is more important than Independence.” The Ikotoilet project is based on the ecological sanitation concept that ensures optimizing utility and design values of urban sanitation. The Ikotoilet model has adapted a “toilet mall concept” in order to strengthen sanitation sustainability. This includes the introduction of micro enterprises that are compatible with sanitation and that add to the convenience of the “toilet mall as destination,” e.g. electronic money transfer {M-pesa}, shoe shine services, barber shop and quick snacks outlets, newspaper vendor and sweepstake services. Offering these services breaks the cultural barriers associated with use of toilets.
