It's World Toilet Day! Why, you might ask, is a World Toilet Day necessary? It warrants its hashtag because being toilettes provides potential for outbreaks of life-threatening diseases like cholera.Yesterday we announced the amazing, fantastic news that Robin Wright launched a sleepwear line and campaign to raise money for the women of Congo, donating 100% of the profits to both Action Kivu's work and another amazing organization, Synergie!It makes you want to be like Robin Wright, right? Here's another opportunity to help. First, check out how Robin Wright donated the funds for the latrine at the Peace Market in Mumosoho in 2011. On our visit in January 2012, we witnessed the completion of the project, and the careful chiseling of the sign to honor "Mama Robin" for her generosity.Next, think about how you might take your toilet for granted. There are 2.5 billion people who are toilet-less, and we are looking for $8,500 in funds to build latrines for a few hundred of them. There are 475 elementary and secondary school children at the Burhembo school in eastern Congo, for whom the current “facilities” are holes in the ground, surrounded by insubstantial walls. As it is now the rainy season, these toilets are a safety hazard as well as a public health risk, when the girls fall in and get hurt.It’s not a sexy subject, but it’s a vital one for the kids in Congo. If you’re interested in helping to raise funds for the school kids at Burhembo, consider donating your birthday – instead of friends taking you for dinner or lavishing you with gifts, they can give to Action Kivu, and kids can have safe toilets, all because of you! Email Rebecca Snavely at actionkivu@gmail.com to connect.
