Through one of the quality water and sanitation projects, Qatar Charity was able to transform the Pakistani village of “Kili Ataallah” from a marginalized village that lacked the minimum standards of hygiene into a village that adheres to environmental standards, according to which it deserved a certificate from the Pakistani government agencies in the Baluchistan province due to its application of safety standards.

The toilets project implemented by Qatar Charity in the village of Kili Ataallah in partnership with UNICEF is considered one of the most prominent pioneering projects in this field. The project, which was implemented in just six months and at a cost of 897,982 Qatari riyals, was a turning point in the lives of the residents of an entire village and became a model to be emulated.

This success is considered the culmination of the great efforts made by Qatar Charity in the field of water and sanitation in Pakistan. During the past years (2021-2023), Qatar Charity built 19,658 toilets throughout the country, whether in government institutions, health facilities, mosques, and remote villages. Qatar Charity succeeded in Constructing about 1,000 toilets in these facilities, with a special focus in this aspect on women and people with special needs. During this period, Qatar Charity organized awareness sessions on the importance of personal hygiene and sanitation for approximately 236,000 people.

This achievement coincides with World Toilet Day, which falls on November 19 every year, and whose slogan this year focuses on “accelerating change” to realize every person’s human right to safe sanitation.

success story

The village of Killi Ataallah is in an area on the Pakistani-Afghan border. It is a remote village in the province of Baluchistan. Due to the lack of awareness and resources, there were no toilets, which created an unhealthy environment and a great threat due to the spread of infectious diseases, child mortality, and the lack of a culture of hand washing and personal hygiene. Qatar Charity, in partnership with UNICEF, implemented a water, sanitation, and hygiene project for Afghan refugees and the host community in 6 provinces in Baluchistan, benefiting 75,000 people. Officials, teachers, school committees, and people of the region were trained, and hygiene-related courses were provided to educate the community about the importance of having bathrooms.

certificate

Thanks to the efforts provided, the local community in the “Kili Ataallah” area became interested in and supported personal hygiene, and a special committee from government departments and a quality control team visited the village and gave it a certificate and a plaque placed at the entrance to the village for applying safety standards and moving from a marginalized village that lacked the elements of hygiene to a village committed to the standards. Environmental, as residents were able to use bathrooms, and awareness of improving personal hygiene practices spread, especially among women and children. As a result, the rate of diseases decreased due to poor sanitation, and the school enrollment rate of children, especially girls, increased. A new culture spread among the population after the availability of water and sanitation facilities, which had a positive impact. It affects public health, economic development, and community participation, and provides a clean and sustainable environment for the village.

In this context, Mr. Shayer Ali, the community resources officer in the village, said: “We did not know about the importance of toilets and practicing personal hygiene. We are grateful to Qatar Charity and UNICEF for their humanitarian intervention by providing toilets and educating the community. We are proud of that. The village has turned into a model that adopts hygiene as a way of life.”

This project was welcomed by the residents, who confirmed the great change that had happened to them. In this context, Mr. Kalsum Bibi said: “I have five children and it was very difficult to provide private toilets for the family, and my children contracted many diseases because of this situation. But now that toilets are available Water has changed our lives. We are very happy and thank Qatar Charity for its interest in the field of sanitation and building a bathroom for my family.”