29/10/2026
Access to a safe, private, and clean place to go to the toilet is a basic condition of human dignity, yet millions of people still face open defecation, unsafe shared facilities, or dependence on water and sewer systems that never reach them. A well-designed compost toilet can meet that basic need without water or expensive infrastructure, reducing exposure to disease, harassment, and shame, thereby giving people greater control over their own sanitation.
But dignity has to be built in, not added on. That means compost toilets that are well-ventilated, easy to keep clean, culturally appropriate, and safely managed, so that no one is asked to trade ecological benefits for discomfort or stigma. Compost toilets are a practical expression of respect, self-determination, and the right to sanitation, one that affirms rather than diminishes human dignity. This year, we are adding to the 177 compost toilets we helped farmers construct.
Community Development International, Inc.
