Safe near the house

The villages in the province of Gandaki to the west of Kathmandu are very different. Some are inhabited by very poor people who have no land of their own. They have built simple huts on pieces of land where they are tolerated by the government. Everything is very close together, there is rubbish everywhere. The people are from the lowest caste and their self-esteem is correspondingly low.

It's very different in a picturesque mountain village that is known for its natural beauty. People's lives are simple and closely linked to nature. Most families live from agriculture and livestock farming. Despite economic challenges, cohesion is strong. People value harmony and cultural richness characterises their lives.

But there were no toilets on either side. People went into the jungle to relieve themselves. However, this was very dangerous because they were attacked by predators and snakes. Due to their poverty, they could not afford to build toilets as their income was only enough for daily expenses. Today, the families are very happy that AVC, through its local partners, has installed toilets near their homes.

Other villages are inhabited by the Dalit community. In the past, they all had to defecate in the open fields, as building toilets close to the house went against their culture. Sometimes they brought diseases into their families. It was especially dangerous for children and women to go outside and expose themselves. That is why the Dalit are now happy to have toilets that offer them protection from wild animals and other dangers - even if these go against their traditional beliefs. All these villages are very grateful to AVC and our donors through our partners.