Toilets for Education

When we were schoolchildren in the UK, we knew that if we needed the toilet there would be no issue: there would be privacy, toilet roll, clean water and soap. Unfortunately, in other parts of the world, this is not the case. Girls in particular suffer from period poverty, with a lack of feminine hygiene products and toilets with no privacy. This actually prevents menstruating girls from attending school at certain times of the month.

When I journeyed to the North East Indian state of Nagaland for outreach work in October 2024, this issue really became evident to me. The toilets were in such a dire state of repair, there were no doors, the corrugated iron walls were rusted and there was no funding to repair them. When I returned from Nagaland I made five pledges to the Naga people - with who we have a family legacy of giving back. One of these pledges became the Toilets for Education Initiative.

Concept & Construction: My name is Simon Johnson and together with Paul Magh (local to Tesophenyu village, north of the capital Kohima) we created Toilets for Education. We worked to create a toilet design to enhance sanitation and privacy for the students. Materials to be used in the construction will be locally sourced and cost-effective, ensuring that no importation is required. The modular build will be easy for local workers or teachers to construct and the design is loosely based on a portaloo.

Project Implementation: I am planning to build an initial batch of toilets, photographing and videoing the modular build concept. I will create YouTube 'how to' videos and PDF 'how to' documents so that communities and schools can then build their own. All the parts will be listed/numbered for easy construction, and each unit will come with basic tools, screws, gloves/masks for the cement, etc. Items like these are inexpensive in first-world countries, so your money will go a long way!

Goals: My plan is to supply the materials to build 1,000 toilets in the next five years. Helping thousands of girls cope with the effects of period poverty and gain the education they deserve.

The materials for each toilet cost £40

Pledge £20 for half a toilet unit

Pledge £40 for a whole toilet unit.

- These figures are subject to change given the amount of materials purchased. The current figures are base on the purchase of 30 units. Beyond that prices will drop down per unit.

Timeline: I will be travelling to Nagaland for the first construction visit at the end of March. Beyond this I am aiming to travel there bi-annually for additional construction visits.

Further Outreach: I have also been working with a local NGO Can Youth run by Jenpu Rhakho Rongmei. Depending on the amount of funds raised I will then go with Jenpu into the more remote areas for further construction.

Thank you!

To my family and friends (in both the UK and UAE) for their support. To the Hartland International School community for their support. David Magh for hosting me and his guidance in October 2024. Paul Magh for the concept collaboration. Jenpu Rhakho Rongmei for his guidance and mentorship. Most of all I would like to thank Achuli Magh for her persistent support/guidance/mentorship.

Questions: if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me through this page.

Please donate anything you can.

Kind regards,

Simon Johnson