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Oh, the Places We Go: Public Health's Humble Hero

January 1, 2014
Photo Gallery
A rural scene with an outdoor pit latrine marked "V.I.P" in yellow paint. The latrine is next to a small brick structure with a red roof. The background shows grassy, hilly terrain with a tall mountain under a cloudy sky. A tree is also visible near the latrine.

The medium: photography. The product: a calendar. The muse: the toilet. In 2013, contestants submitted their visual ode to commodes on social media using #placeswego for the chance to appear in DefeatDD’s 2014 Places We Go calendar. Here are the winning photos. To download a copy of the calendar, visit https//live-defeat-dd-rebuild.pantheonsite.io/oh-the-places-we-go-calendar.

A rural area with a small, rustic outhouse labeled "VIP" in yellow on its metal door. The backdrop features green fields, scattered trees, and a mountainous landscape under a cloudy sky.
Small stone restroom labeled "W.C." stands on a rocky mountaintop at sunrise or sunset. A person is visible in front of the building, and extensive mountain ranges spread out in the background beneath a clear sky.
Three small, rustic wooden sheds are situated on a reddish, elevated terrain with green foliage at the foreground. The backdrop features a scenic view of rolling hills and clouds under a partly cloudy sky, with a large tree branch extending from the top left corner.
A small circular hut with a thatched roof and geometric painted designs on its mud walls stands on red soil. It has a closed metal door and a rounded window. The surrounding area is a mix of greenery and dry patches of land.
A white plastic chair sits in the sand in a desert landscape, surrounded by scrubby bushes. Nearby, a shovel is stuck in the ground and a pole with a white flag is planted. The sky is clear.
A rural scene featuring round huts made of vertical dried reeds and thatching, set on a dirt clearing. Surrounding the huts are various types of vegetation, including banana plants and palm trees. The sky is overcast, suggesting impending rain or cloudy weather.
A small, rural medical facility is shown with a concrete structure displaying a sign mentioning Irish Aid support. The area surrounding the facility is grassy and expansive, with a few scattered trees and a small outbuilding in the background. The sky is clear and blue.
A public restroom featuring a large, vibrant sunflower mural covering the wall. The restroom includes a small sink with a soap dispenser and hand dryer, as well as two urinals. A "no smoking" sign is visible near the sink.
Image shows a small outdoor structure with walls made from rows of stacked plastic bottles. It has a corrugated metal roof and a tattered cloth hanging as a door. The structure is raised on a concrete platform with two steps leading up to it.
A rustic, historical toilet made of stone and wood. The toilet has a wooden seat with a round opening and a stone base. The setting appears to be dimly lit, with light coming in from a small window to the right. The design looks ancient and well-worn.
A portable toilet with a striped red and orange bag hangs on its side, sits in a grassy field. Two zebras graze in the blurry background, showcasing a savanna landscape. The sky is overcast with soft light. .
A rustic shed stands in an open field at sunrise, with a dramatic sky of blue and orange hues. The ground is plowed, and trees surround the area, creating a serene rural landscape.
Toy figurines celebrate around a decorated toilet with a banner reading "I ♥ TOILETS #CelebrateTheToilet" in the background. Some figures are in wheelchairs and others are on foot, surrounded by colorful flowers on the ground.
A rural area with a small, rustic outhouse labeled "VIP" in yellow on its metal door. The backdrop features green fields, scattered trees, and a mountainous landscape under a cloudy sky.

This latrine gives new meaning to the term.

Small stone restroom labeled "W.C." stands on a rocky mountaintop at sunrise or sunset. A person is visible in front of the building, and extensive mountain ranges spread out in the background beneath a clear sky.

Taking sanitation to new heights. By Genevieve Kelly, Population Services International, on Mount Sinai in Egypt.

Three small, rustic wooden sheds are situated on a reddish, elevated terrain with green foliage at the foreground. The backdrop features a scenic view of rolling hills and clouds under a partly cloudy sky, with a large tree branch extending from the top left corner.

A toilet triplet. By Samantha Russell, a Peace Corps volunteer, in Viti Levu Island, Fiji.

A small circular hut with a thatched roof and geometric painted designs on its mud walls stands on red soil. It has a closed metal door and a rounded window. The surrounding area is a mix of greenery and dry patches of land.

Smartly dressed with bright colors and a simple, improvised handwashing station. By Peter Hawkins, Water and Sanitation Program – World Bank, in Central Mozambique.

A white plastic chair sits in the sand in a desert landscape, surrounded by scrubby bushes. Nearby, a shovel is stuck in the ground and a pole with a white flag is planted. The sky is clear.

Desert defecation: back to basics. By Lisa White in the Anza Borrego Desert, California

A rural scene featuring round huts made of vertical dried reeds and thatching, set on a dirt clearing. Surrounding the huts are various types of vegetation, including banana plants and palm trees. The sky is overcast, suggesting impending rain or cloudy weather.

These latrines offer precious privacy. By Sueng Lee, Save the Children, in Gaza Province, Mozambique.

A small, rural medical facility is shown with a concrete structure displaying a sign mentioning Irish Aid support. The area surrounding the facility is grassy and expansive, with a few scattered trees and a small outbuilding in the background. The sky is clear and blue.

One of these things is not like the other. Doors and a handwashing station offer new forms of protection. By Angela Huddeston, GOAL Kenya, in Marsabit, Kenya.

A public restroom featuring a large, vibrant sunflower mural covering the wall. The restroom includes a small sink with a soap dispenser and hand dryer, as well as two urinals. A "no smoking" sign is visible near the sink.

Can you hear the birds singing? Answering nature’s call becomes quite literal here. By David Ditchfield at Norton Canes Service Station, England.

Image shows a small outdoor structure with walls made from rows of stacked plastic bottles. It has a corrugated metal roof and a tattered cloth hanging as a door. The structure is raised on a concrete platform with two steps leading up to it.

A creative use for old beer cans. By Stefanie Lorenz, Susana, in Botswana.

A rustic, historical toilet made of stone and wood. The toilet has a wooden seat with a round opening and a stone base. The setting appears to be dimly lit, with light coming in from a small window to the right. The design looks ancient and well-worn.

Mahatma Gandhi’s toilet, which he kept spotless. He set a high standard for cleanliness.

A portable toilet with a striped red and orange bag hangs on its side, sits in a grassy field. Two zebras graze in the blurry background, showcasing a savanna landscape. The sky is overcast with soft light. .

Sanitation on the go. Social enterprise companies like Banza Toilet enhance public health. By Patrick Kiruki, in Nairobi, Kenya.

A rustic shed stands in an open field at sunrise, with a dramatic sky of blue and orange hues. The ground is plowed, and trees surround the area, creating a serene rural landscape.

Shaky construction but a sensational view for this pit latrine shared by a small homestead. By George Karugu in Mwea, Kenya.

Toy figurines celebrate around a decorated toilet with a banner reading "I ♥ TOILETS #CelebrateTheToilet" in the background. Some figures are in wheelchairs and others are on foot, surrounded by colorful flowers on the ground.

All hail the throne! Go forth and celebrate the toilet. By Thorsten Kiefer, WASH United.

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