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Mongolia: Shipping Containers Bring Warm Toilets to Kids
13 Sep
Summary
- Relocatable WASH Houses use insulated shipping containers for school sanitation.
- Warm running water and heated facilities address Mongolia's extreme winter.
- The project benefited approximately 1,400 students by improving hygiene.
Children in Mongolia's remote herding communities are no longer forced to brave freezing temperatures for basic sanitation. UNICEF has developed relocatable WASH Houses, adapting insulated shipping container principles to provide heated, well-lit facilities with warm running water.
These prefabricated units connect directly to classrooms or ger kindergartens, offering toilets and basins. This innovative approach tackles the challenge of extreme cold and frozen ground, which complicates conventional construction in Mongolia's nomadic regions.
By 2015, 15 WASH Houses were installed, directly benefiting around 1,400 students. The portable design offers flexibility for ger schools and kindergartens, addressing inadequate sanitation and limited access to water for hygiene. Teachers have linked these improved conditions to fewer health issues and reduced absenteeism.
The project showcases a broader trend of designing infrastructure for challenging environments. Mongolia's short construction season and vast distances make traditional building difficult. Prefabricated containers offer a practical solution, allowing essential facilities like warm bathrooms and hot water to be delivered where they are most needed.
