Innovations for Poverty Action
New Haven, CT
06510
United States
+1 203-772-2216
contact@poverty-action.org
The Latrine Training Mat (LTM), also called the Safe Squat, safely promotes good sanitation practices from an early age and fosters a lifelong habit of latrine use by converting latrine floors into a child-friendly, easy-to-clean surface, which also saves mothers valuable time that might otherwise be spent cleaning the latrine or disposing of feces.
The Safe Squat training mat is a flat, square slab made of plastic or treated wood, approximately 60 cm across with a tapered hole about 13cm wide at the center. It is elevated a few centimeters from the ground on risers and temporarily fits over an existing latrine hole.
There are three different prototypes of the Latrine Training Mat. The prototypes were made of treated wood, temporary plastic, or permanent plastic, with the objective of determining the most acceptable material and design for the mat. Both wooden and temporary plastic models were designed solely for children, and can be placed on and off the hole as needed. The permanent plastic mat was designed for the whole family to use, but the hole in the center of the mat was approximately 5 cm wider than the other two prototypes.
In many countries sanitation facilities, such as simple pit latrines, are common and are helpful for maintaining sanitation and preventing illness. However, young children often continue to defecate in the open long after they are old enough to use the latrine, finding open pit latrines intimidating and challenging to use.
In close partnership with 'Decision Makers' -- the policymakers, practitioners, investors, and donors working with the poor around the world -- IPA designs and evaluates potential solutions to global poverty problems using randomized evaluations, the most rigorous evaluation method available. IPA also mobilizes and supports these 'Decision Makers' to use these solutions to build better programs and policies at scale. Since its founding in 2002, the results of IPA's research have improved the lives of over 50 million people around the world.
Publicly available: yes
Countries where available: Worldwide
Offered or can be licensed for local manufacture: Yes