Hi everyone! I am Joyleena Bhattacharyya. I am a student currently pursuing my Bachelor’s in English Literature from Lakshmi Bai College, University of Delhi. In addition, I am also a trained Indian classical dancer.
I joined FIN India as an intern as a part of my social internship in college. My tasks at FIN mainly revolved around creating educational material in MS Office to teach the children attending FIN’s Rural Lab classes in Kameswaram village. I am very grateful for the wonderful guidance I have received in the organization. My mentors, Abhishek sir, and Shyama ma’am have always been helpful to me. My journey here has been full of new beginnings and many other important qualities of teamwork and leadership. The best part of this internship is the vision and goal of contributing to making the world a better place, in whatever way possible.
As a part of my journey at FIN, I conducted an online quiz/discussion event on World Toilet Day. The event addressed the need to have proper access to toilets and the significance of having proper hygiene in the daily lifestyle. As per the World Health Organization, even in 2022, over 1.5 billion people still do not have basic sanitation services, such as private toilets or latrines. This aspect of poor sanitation reduces human well-being, and social and economic development due to impacts such as anxiety, risk of sexual assault, and lost opportunities for education and work. Since 2013, as per the UN General Assembly, World Toilet Day has been observed on the 19th of November to create conversations related to sanitation and inspire actions to solve this global sanitation crisis.
My primary goal in conducting the event was to educate and engage individuals of all ages in a fun and interactive manner, fostering a sense of responsibility towards global sanitation issues. The quiz was designed to cover various aspects of sanitation, including statistics on global access to toilets, the impact of inadequate sanitation on health, and innovative solutions to address the issue. It comprised multiple-choice questions, ensuring inclusivity and a wide range of topics to cater to participants with varying levels of expertise. Invitations were sent and spread around to people of all age groups to participate and engage in the quiz and discussion.
An insightful discussion followed, where the participants shared their views and opinions on the sanitation and public health sectors. They also shared insights into the challenges faced globally and discussed potential solutions and advancements in sanitation practices and technology. The participants had the opportunity to ask questions and engage in a meaningful dialogue with each other. Also, breakout sessions were organized to encourage participants to share their experiences and ideas related to sanitation in their communities. Though the event did not have a particularly significant turnout, the participants were very active and represented diverse backgrounds. The interactive nature of the quiz and discussions sparked engagement and encouraged participants to think critically about sanitation issues.
In the entire process of conducting the event, I learned so much more about the sanitation crisis around the globe, and it got me thinking about how something as basic as access to clean and safe toilets can impact lives in profound ways. To date, a mere 57% of the global population (4.6 billion people) used safely managed sanitation services, according to WHO data. It’s not just about convenience; it’s about health, dignity, and human rights. The vision here is not just raising awareness; it’s a call to action.
While conducting this event has significantly raised my awareness of various global issues, it has also benefited my professional life in different ways. Firstly, organizing the quiz has improved my event planning and coordination skills, as well as my ability to engage and motivate team members to participate in meaningful initiatives. Moreover, the positive feedback received from participants has boosted morale and strengthened team spirit, creating a more cohesive and supportive work culture. Overall, conducting the quiz on World Toilet Day has not only contributed to personal and professional growth but also underscored the significance of addressing global challenges within our professional spheres.
Joyleena Bhattacharyya,
Intern, Friend In Need India