International collaboration for Safe Water access and Dignified WASH
LiveView Technologies (LVT), in partnership with SOS NPO and sanitation provider Amalooloo, has developed and launched the first “Dignity Square” at a South African government no-fee school. This pioneering initiative is dedicated to restoring dignity while improving hygiene, menstrual health, and education—addressing one of the world’s most pressing challenges: access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).
The first Dignity Square has been established in Ivory Park, Johannesburg, marking a significant milestone for South Africa. The project has long been the vision of Shelley Humphreys, Founder and CEO of SOS NPO.
“Working on safe water and dignified access to WASH, especially for young girls, is an often-overlooked issue across Africa,” says Humphreys. “Gender, water, and dignified WASH have finally begun receiving attention, as highlighted in recent WHO/UNICEF reports focusing on inequalities. It’s encouraging to see this growing awareness.”
At the heart of the initiative is the Dignity Hub, which provides access to safe, private toilets, solar-heated showers, and innovative systems that support circular economic models and water recycling. Designed for flexibility, these units can be installed in areas without existing water or sewer infrastructure.
Complementing this is the Dignity Room, a safe and supportive space where girls can rest, recover, and access essential menstrual health products and guidance during their cycles—reinforcing the message: “Periods matter. Period.”
The Dignity Square also introduces a dedicated laundry service, featuring a hand-operated washing machine and dryer. This service ensures that school uniforms can be cleaned quickly, particularly in emergencies where girls may experience breakthrough bleeding.
“Many girls stay home during their menstruation days, resulting in significant educational loss,” Humphreys adds. “If we can encourage girls to attend school during this time, it’s a major step forward for girls’ education.”
Beyond supporting learners, the laundry service operates as a social enterprise within the school. Teachers can access affordable washing, drying, and folding services—an invaluable benefit for those with limited time for domestic responsibilities. By bringing their laundry to school, teachers can return home to clean, dry, neatly folded clothes at a reasonable cost.
The launch coincides with United Nations World Water Day, observed annually on 22 March. This global event raises awareness of the 2.1 billion people living without access to safe drinking water, and even more without adequate sanitation. It calls for urgent action to address the global water crisis and achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6: ensuring water and sanitation for all by 2030.
Gender-responsive WASH is critical to achieving the 2030 Agenda. Embedding gender equity into policy at all levels, will not only help ensure access to water and sanitation, but also advance broader goals including poverty reduction, health, education, and economic opportunity.
Access to safe WASH services is also essential in preventing violence against women and girls. Prioritizing safety, dignity, and inclusion in service design—while addressing gender imbalances in governance—will help ensure more effective and equitable solutions.
“LVT has a deep-rooted history of humanitarian work in Africa, from funding sight-restoring surgeries with Daybreak to now enabling the first of 100 Dignity Hubs and Squares across Southern Africa” says Ryan Porter, Co-Founder and CEO of LVT. “We are honoured to serve as the inaugural partner for the Ivory Park project. For us, World Water Day is about more than infrastructure—it’s about resilience and the millions of lives that will be transformed through access to basic human rights: water, sanitation, and dignity.”
LVT, Amalooloo, and SOS NPO invite all stakeholders to join this growing movement—anchored in ‘Out of the Blue Programs’—supporting dignity, health and opportunity for youth. Strong partnerships are essential to scaling this solution and addressing this critical challenge.
Together, we can make a lasting difference. The time to act is now.
For more information and further details please contact.
Shelley Humphreys, CEO SOSNPO and Founder of W12+ Programs.
email: shelley@sosnpo.org or on contact 065 8644053
Data Sources can be found here: https://www.unwater.org/water-facts/water-and-gender
