A DONATION to Barnard Castle’s toilet twinning scheme is raising student awareness of the role of latrines in poor countries for girls’ education.
Teesdale School and Sixth Form’s loos have been twinned with a toilet block in Malawi following a donation by a member of the public.
It is the first toilet twin of the new year, and the 51st of the scheme spearheaded by Barnard Castle resident Ian Blake.
Mr Blake said: “It was an anonymous donation from a member of the community to make students aware of how privileged we are and what a vital difference the toilet twinning makes to those in the communities that receive them.”
Globally, thousands of girls drop out of school every year because they have no access to a clean toilet.
The toilet twinning scheme gives cash to help build new toilets and provide access to clean water. In one country where a block was built, about 50 girl students returned to school to carry on their education, Mr Blake said.
He said: “By building the toilets it doesn’t just provide them with access to safe, clean water, it opens the door of opportunity for them with education and all that entails.”
Mr Blake presented the twinning certificate to Keira Scott and Sam Crow, members of the sixth form Rotary Interact committee, last Thursday.
The students are hoping to fund a second toilet block and will be organising fundraising activities.
Dr Simon Henderson, head of sixth form, said: “The interact group had raised a substantial amount of money but we have been unable to hand it out due to restrictions.
“Our aims are to raise money for our own toilet project and for things in the wider community, something to help with mental health for the post pandemic life.”
He added plans for all fund-raising activities are on hold until restrictions are relaxed.
He hopes to welcome Mr Blake back to the school for a presentation to kick start their toilet twinning fundraiser.
