ABOUT
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
The idea for Operation Toilets Australia (OTA) was brought to the Rotary Club of Box Hill Central by club member Mark Balla who had learned during a trip to India that many schools in the developing world have no toilets.
He learned about the terrible impact this had on the lives of the children in these schools, and most particularly on the lives of adolescent girls in the schools and he felt compelled to do something about it.
The Rotary Club of Box Hill Central adopted the mission with gusto and the rest is history. To date we have reached over 100,000 children plus many community members with projects in India, Ethiopia, and Nepal.
Not long after joining our club, Mark delivered TEDx talk in New Zealand explaining the issue in more detail. You can watch his talk here.
WHAT WE DO
Operation Toilets Australia (OTA) builds toilets and delivers hygiene education programs in schools and in communities in developing countries with the special aim of improving the educational opportunities for adolescent girls and to improve the lives of needy families in rural areas.
OTA partners with Rotary clubs and in-country not-for-profit organizations to build toilets that use systems that are proven to be appropriate for the local environment.
A key element of any OTA project is hygiene education including WASH, (Water Sanitation and Health) for schools developed by UNICEF and CLTSH (Community Led Total Sanitation and Health) developed for communities.
Participants are taught to wash their hands after visiting the toilet or before eating and understand the link between poor sanitation and disease.
The final part of any OTA project is for a school or community to commit to an ongoing maintenance program to ensure that their toilets are kept in good working order.
Our projects are currently located in India, Ethiopia, and Nepal. OTA partners with in-country Rotary clubs, Rotary districts and not-for-profit organisations (NGO) and receives financial support from The Rotary Foundation in the form of matching Global Grants, donations from Rotary clubs and districts, Rotarians, schools, businesses, and members of the public.
OTA also works in partnership with International Needs Australia (INA), an approved “Cooperating Organisation”, as part of The Rotary Foundation Global Grants system. INA is an accredited NGO with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and has access to funding under the Australian NGO Cooperation Program.
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. For more than 110 years, Rotary's people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects.
From literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end.