Long-term aid through knowledge transfer

Geberit is planning several social-aid projects around the globe. We are not simply making money and materials available, but are instead planning, leading and coordinating the entire project with Geberit employees as the responsible project managers. They, in turn, are supported by Geberit apprentices wherever this is feasible.

Basic sanitary services as a fundamental resource

Geberit's projects represent a contribution to one of the most important elements for human health: basic sanitary services.

2.6 billion people worldwide, including a billion children, currently live without any basic sanitary facilities whatsoever, putting the health of the affected people acutely at risk: devastating diseases such as cholera, malaria, dysentery and typhus can spread rapidly as a result of inadequate hygiene. Every 20 seconds a child dies as a result of the effects of inadequate sanitary facilities; that amounts to 1.5 million avoidable deaths every year.

Geberit's objective is therefore above all to equip schools in developing countries with new sanitary installations. Geberit employees will include, support and train local people in the planning and implementation of the work to ensure that local workers will be able to perform ongoing upkeep and repair work on their own. This, too, is part of sustainability at Geberit.

2008: The International Year of Basic Sanitary Services