A Latrine for Lázaro: Honoring World Toilet Day

In the Mexican community of El Fortín, 25-year-old Lázaro had nowhere to relieve himself that was safe, clean, and private. Lázaro’s situation made this even more difficult, as he is paralyzed in over half of his body. Not only did he lack a clean bathroom, but he had no bathroom suitable for his special needs.  Like Lázaro, 3.5 billion people around the world lack safely managed sanitation, and 419 million practice open defecation, according to WHO and UNICEF.

On Tuesday, November 19, 2024, organizations worldwide will celebrate World Toilet Day, a United Nations day designated for highlighting the global sanitation crisis. This year’s theme, Toilets: A Place for Peace, reminds us that access to safe toilets can improve peace, protection, and dignity in people’s lives.

After a motorcycle accident last year, Lázaro was diagnosed with paralysis in 65% of his body. He will most likely use a wheelchair for the rest of his life. “I lost mobility [and] sensitivity in half of my body,” Lázaro said. “[It] has affected me a lot because I had a more mobile life [before].” In a community with little to no sustainable sanitation, Lázaro’s disability created additional challenges for him. He could not use the bathroom by himself and was forced to rely on others, causing a loss of privacy and dignity in his life.

Achieving access to adequate sanitation and ending open defecation worldwide are two of the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 6. Water Mission’s sanitation solutions include the construction of the pour-flush latrine, known as the Healthy Latrine.

After identifying the greatest sanitation needs in El Fortín, like Lázaro’s, our team in Mexico began working on a sanitation project in partnership with Food for the Poor and the local community. In August 2024, we completed the project, providing nearly 200 people with safe sanitation. This includes a Healthy Latrine catered to Lázaro’s specific needs, allowing him to have an easy-to-use toilet despite his limited mobility.

“The project has benefited me a lot,” Lázaro said. “Now, I have more mobility in the bathroom. I can do [it] by myself. I have more privacy, and I feel better with that.”

Thanks to your generosity, Water Mission works alongside communities to establish sanitation solutions in remote communities. With safe and easily managed sanitation, people can experience more peace, dignity, and safety.

To thank those who made this project possible, Lázaro said, “They have made my life easier now that I [have] the bathroom because [before], I did not have that possibility of having privacy. I thank them very much from the bottom of my heart for what they did for me.” 

On this World Toilet Day, you can partner with us to provide people with sanitation solutions, giving them an opportunity for peace. Lázaro’s specially-made latrine changed his life, and safe, clean, private toilets can change others’ lives around the world.