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Everybody poops. But not everyone has access to a toilet. This simple truth is a stark reality for nearly half of the world’s population, who lack basic sanitation facilities. Jasmine Burton, the founder and president of Atlanta-based Wish for WASH, is on a mission to change that.
Burton’s journey began when she was just a freshman at Georgia Institute of Technology. She was shocked to learn that as many as 2.5 billion people around the world don’t have access to a toilet. This lack of sanitation disproportionately affects women and young girls, who often drop out of school because of the absence of proper facilities. This reality struck a chord with Burton, both as a woman in higher education and as a product designer.
Determined to make a difference, Burton, then just 18 years old, set out to design a solution. Teaming up with three other students at Georgia Tech, she developed the SafiChoo Toilet – an inexpensive, portable, and eco-friendly sanitation system. Made of plastic, the toilet is designed for sitting or squatting, with the flexibility to be placed directly on the ground or elevated with an attachable base. It can operate with or without water and features a waste collection unit that separates liquids and solids, as well as a manually-operated bidet.
One of the key aspects of the SafiChoo Toilet is its focus on hygiene and disease prevention. By curbing contamination and the spread of diseases, Burton hopes to improve the overall health and well-being of communities that lack access to proper sanitation facilities. The toilet is priced at around $50, with the goal of keeping it affordable and accessible to those in need.
In 2014, Burton and her team won first place and $25,000 at the Georgia Tech InVention competition, marking a significant milestone in the development of the SafiChoo Toilet. This victory allowed Burton to pilot the toilet at a refugee camp in Kenya and launch Wish for WASH, the parent company of SafiChoo.
With the support of the Georgia Center of Innovation for Manufacturing, Burton and her team were able to further develop the SafiChoo prototype and find a manufacturer in Atlanta. The goal is to keep the production of the toilet within the United States, ensuring quality and supporting local manufacturing.
Currently based in Lusaka, Zambia, Burton is testing the SafiChoo Toilet in real-world conditions. An Indiegogo campaign is also underway to support the pilot program in Zambia. The ultimate goal is to begin selling the toilet to customers in the U.S. and to NGOs in 2017.
For Burton, the impact of the SafiChoo Toilet goes beyond just providing a basic necessity. It is about empowering communities, improving health outcomes, and restoring dignity to those who have been marginalized by the lack of proper sanitation facilities. As she continues to test and refine the toilet, Burton remains committed to her mission of making sanitation accessible to all.
“It’s amazing when you see how many people have never used a toilet before and what [the SafiChoo Toilet] could mean for them,” she said. With her passion, determination, and innovative spirit, Jasmine Burton is truly making a difference in the world, one toilet at a time.
