THANK YOU to all who have been donating to, tweeting about and supporting Twitter for Sh-tters, both during the first round of our campaign and on World Toilet Day 2009. As we wrap up this year of the campaign, we’re proud to have raised enough money to build enough eco-san toilets to help communities that need them most for a collective 90 years, all while using 1.5 million fewer gallons of water each than a standard flush toilet.

Your support will help keep people healthy by stopping the spread of deadly diseases, and give communities a chance by providing them with economic opportunities (for more on the benefits of eco-san, check out our about section).

You weren’t afraid to step in it, and we love that.

This isn’t the end – not even close. @Tw_tter4Sh_tter and Wherever The Need will continue to work tirelessly to raise money and awareness for sanitation issues. Stay tuned to our Twitter Stream to hear what’s next.

Twitter for Sh-tters works to raise money to build eco-san toilets (the aforementioned “shitters”) in communities throughout India. For every $400 we raise, Wherever The Need is able to build one shitter (the aforementioned “eco-san toilets”) that helps to stop the spread of disease, improves health and provides opportunity for as many as 30 years. The toilets shown above represent how many shitters your donations will help us build. (You know…so far. Keep donating – how about a dollar every time you hit the head?)

Why is sanitation such a dirty word? For whatever reason, it has become taboo to talk about it. We all poop, crap, dump, or whatever you call it! Well, we think it’s time to cut through the crap and start talking shit.

Why now? Because the world needs it. Lack of sanitation has become a life-or-death issue in the poorest parts of the world, and we can’t hold it in any longer. Non-profit Wherever The Need, which provides eco-sanitation toilets where they are needed most, created Twitter for Sh-tters to push hard to get people talking about the straight poop. We’re raising money to build more eco-san toilets (the aforementioned “shitters.”)

The idea is simple: every day, Twitter users – whether they have 5 followers or 5,000 – will spend the day tweeting to try and get their followers to donate. Our “Daily Dumpers” can tweet about whatever crap they want from the best “potty humor” to simply just “talking shit.” The point is to take this long-avoided topic and, pardon the expression, step right in it.

Will you give a shit?

Look, we know there’s no shortage of worthy causes asking for your support. We’re not trying to throw money at a problem. We’re not trying to be the next big Hollywood charity du jour. And we’re definitely not just looking for an excuse to talk shit (that’s just a bonus). We’re about solutions.

Simply put, the facts are staggering. We won’t bore you with them, but if you’re interested in learning more, check out this site. Every day, people in the poorest parts of Africa and India are subject to dire sanitation conditions – if you’ve seen Slumdog Millionaire, you know the images. That said, our approach isn’t about tugging on heartstrings or creating guilt for what we have. Instead, we want to challenge individuals, corporations and even governments to give a shit.

All donations go to Wherever The Need and its efforts to bring sanitation (and water) solutions to the places where they’re needed the most by building eco-sanitation toilets. The solution. For more info about the campaign, see our about section.