Changes

'''Country:''' Germany

=== A contest inspires students and schools to come up with their own ideas for improving their sanitation facilities ===

The German Toilet Organization (GTO) launched a competition named “Toiletten machen Schule” (“Toilets making the grade”) in November 2012. Its aim was to encourage schools with its students to imagine an idea that makes school toilets a "better" and comfortable place. GTO supported the schools by providing an inspirational package on how best to structure the process and plan activities accordingly. Finally, seventy-nine schools from all over Germany was active in this awareness raising project.

The taboo around the topic of sanitation persists around the world. In Germany, for example, the school toilet is often perceived as a dirty, smelly and an uncomfortable place. A survey among students in Berlin revealed that an alarming 75% of the interviewed students avoid using their school sanitation facilities and even try to drink less in order to avoid going to the toilet. In many schools the facilities are not functioning properly, and there is often a lack of sufficient toilet paper, soap, brushes or dustbins. In addition there is often neglect and little appreciation for school restrooms, and many schools face problems with vandalism and graffiti.

A school from Berlin convinced the jury with their “Adopt a toilet” idea, where students take direct responsibility for a specific toilet during their time at school. This idea helps increase personal commitment to the upkeep of the school’s sanitation facilities. The project concept was developed in cooperation with Dr. Tom Keating of Project CLEAN (Cleaners, Learners and Educators Against Neglect), who has been working to improve school restrooms in the United States for more than 20 years.

[[File:G3.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Inauguration ceremony of the new school facilities]]

It is generally useful to organize such kind of competition, where "only" the main aim is given, thus the students are enough free to imagine great and successful ideas to solve the given problem. In this competition it was a perfect solution, as well, that the schools had to give its own resources (e.g. time, money) into the implementation, so the participants were more committed to the project.

'''Technically Appropriate, Including O&M: '''a contest inspires many creative ideas for engaging students and parents in the upkeep of their own toilets and washrooms.

'''Promote health and hygiene effectively:''' the topic of sanitation is included in the school curriculum, so students learn about proper hygiene, sanitation, and water conservation.

'''''The German Toilet Organization''' is an NGO situated in berlin. Since 2005, they have worked internationally in the field of sustainable sanitation. as part of its work gto offers workshops in schools to improve their sanitation situation and to raise awareness about the global crisis.''

'''''WECF '''(Women in Europe for a Common Future) is a non-governmental organization established in 1994 following the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, to give women a stronger voice in the field of sustainable development and environment. WECF strives for balancing the environment, health and economy, taking the different needs and perspectives of women and men into account and implements solutions locally and influences policy internationally.''

'''Robert Gensch'''

German Toilet Organization

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