Tippy-Tap

Tippy-Taps a.k.a leaking cans are hand washing facilities for schools and households.

The very young are hit hardest by the lack of clean and safe water. The consequence is diarrhoeal diseases which kills six thousand children every day of the year. The simple act of washing hands with soap and water could alone cut this figure by almost half.

Hand washing is the best way to prevent distribution of bacteria.

Why is hand washing important?
Washing your hands is the best method to prevent distribution of bacteria. As soon as you have washed your hands, micro organisms are collected on your hands through opening a door, wiping your face, touching toys.

You can not prevent collecting bacteria but you can reduce the risk of getting ill or further distribution by washing your hands in some important situations.

When should you wash your hands?
Before and after several activities where the risk of spreading bacteria is high.

Before:

You prepare food and before eating
You give medication to a child
You take care of an injury
You go to bed

After:

You have visited the toilet
You have taken care of your animals
You cleaned your nose
You helped a child on the toilet or changed napkins
You have taken care of an ill child

Pupils are queing to wash their hands with
a Tippy-Tap for their first time ever.

Tippy-Taps are hygienic!

You are able to wash your hands with running water without touching anything but the soap.

Tippy-Taps are easy to use!

To wash your hands you step with a foot on the stick which in turn will pull the rope and this will turn the can and enable the water to flow.

Tippy-Taps are easy to make!

All you need is an old plastic can, some sticks and pieces of ropes - materials which are available in each household or school.
In the plastic can you have to make a small hole where the water will come out and two through which you will put a piece of rope or wire to hang it on a vertical stick. Then bind another peace of rope around the handle of the can and connect it to a stick on the ground so that the stick is half hanging half lying. The easiest way to construct a Tippy-Tap is when you can use trees as the main support. Further you can fix an old bucket to the structure where to keep some soap.

Links

Handwashing Handbook by WSP

Description of projects where Tippy-Taps are applied by KWAHO: