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November 19th • Health & Infrastructure

World Toilet Day

World Toilet Day is an official United Nations international observance day on November 19th that inspires action to tackle the global sanitation crisis. Today, we debate the importance of hygiene and infrastructure in our lives, the challenges faced by billions of people who lack access to safe sanitation, and why we often take such basic necessities for granted. Is a toilet the most important invention in human history?

A clean and modern bathroom with a focus on sanitation

Speaking Discussion

  • Why do you think we rarely talk about sanitation and toilets in public, despite them being essential for our survival?
  • How much of an impact does access to clean water and safe toilets have on the economic development of a country?
  • In your opinion, what is the most important invention in human history? Why would you place the toilet high on that list?
  • What are the biggest challenges in building and maintaining sanitation infrastructure in rapidly growing mega-cities?
  • Should access to safe and clean public toilets be considered a basic human right? Why or why not?
  • How does your country handle public sanitation and hygiene? Are there any areas that you think could be improved?

Activity 1: The sanitation solution Pitch

The Task: You are a Social Entrepreneur. You have developed a low-cost, portable toilet for use in areas without running water.

What is your pitch to a group of international investors? How will it change lives?

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Sentences

Complete the sentence and justify it in 20 seconds.

  • "The most important part of public infrastructure is..."
  • "I think global health is..."
  • "In my opinion, sanitation is..."