Domestos spearheads a transformative initiative, providing clean and safe sanitation to South African schools, positively impacting millions of lives.
Johannesburg, South Africa (07 December 2023) – Domestos South Africa marked World Toilet Day with a powerful initiative aimed at addressing the school sanitation crisis in the country and Good Things Guy had the privilege of witnessing this impactful event as the brand handed over newly refurbished bathrooms at a school in KwaZulu-Natal.
Recognising the value of well-maintained toilets as precious assets in the fight against disease and for the continuity of education, Domestos has been tirelessly working towards holistic and sustainable solutions for South Africa’s school sanitation challenges.
The company believes that every toilet is as valuable as gold and should be treated with utmost care.
“All toilets are precious and should be treated like gold to ensure our children’s health and dignity. We call upon communities, leaders, and every citizen to take action in preserving these vital facilities,” said Mandisa Mbenenge, Domestos Purpose Lead.
The grim reality of neglected toilets leading to what is termed as “toilet loss” has been a persistent issue. Neglected toilets quickly become dirty, unsafe, and ultimately unusable, negatively impacting the health and education of South African children. Domestos, however, has been resolute in its mission to combat unsafe sanitation and poor hygiene since 2010, providing cleaner and safer sanitation for over 8 million learners in South Africa.
“While building new toilets is a step forward, the stride becomes incomplete without a sustainable plan for maintenance. This World Toilet Day, we’re focusing on the entire lifespan of these essential facilities because their upkeep is as vital as their construction. This necessitates intervention on both a global and local scale as the sanctity of a safe, clean toilet is not a luxury but a fundamental right,” said Mbenenge.
One of the commendable aspects of Domestos’ approach is its refusal to shy away from the issue, choosing instead to use occasions like World Toilet Day to spark crucial conversations about the global sanitation crisis. Established by the World Toilet Organization in 2001, World Toilet Day has gained official recognition as a United Nations Observance in 2013. It serves as a rallying point to inspire action to address the sanitation crisis affecting billions of people worldwide.
The statistics surrounding the global sanitation crisis are stark. Approximately 3.6 billion people lack access to a safe toilet, and a staggering 1 in 3 schools worldwide do not have any toilet facilities. The situation is particularly dire in South Africa, where thousands of schools face a water and sanitation crisis, depriving students of decent, clean, and safe sanitation facilities. This not only affects their health but also infringes on their basic human rights to dignity and privacy.
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Domestos has set an ambitious goal for itself, pledging to assist 100 million people globally in accessing improved standards of sanitation and hygiene by the year 2030.
The strides made by Domestos in the current year alone are noteworthy and demonstrate the company’s tangible impact on the ground.
Under the Infrastructure initiative, Domestos has successfully refurbished three school toilets, positively impacting over 2,441 learners. The National Schools Hygiene Program has reached over 16,800 schools and more than 1 million learners, emphasising the broad scope of Domestos’ influence. Additionally, the Cleaner Toilets, Brighter Future program has trained 201 schools, reaching over 161,663 learners.
By addressing the urgent need for clean and safe toilet facilities, Domestos is contributing not only to the physical well-being of students but also to their educational prospects and overall quality of life. As we celebrate the positive impact made by Domestos, we are reminded that small acts, when multiplied, can indeed bring about substantial and lasting change.
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