2018 Outstanding Peace Activist

Jack Sim is the founder of the Restroom Association of Singapore, the World Toilet Organization, the World Toilet Day Initiative, and the Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) Hub. His vision for the WTO is a world where everyone has access to a clean, safe toilet at all times. His mission is to continue building the global sanitation movement through collaborative action that inspires and drives demand for sanitation, providing innovative solutions to achieve sustainable sanitation for all.

Jack Sim has been a successful businessman since the age of 24. After achieving financial success in his 40s, he felt the need to change direction in life and give back to humanity—he wanted to live according to the motto “Live a useful life.” Jack soon left his business and embarked on a journey to be the voice for those who cannot speak out, fighting for the dignity, rights, and health of the vulnerable and poor worldwide.

Jack discovered that toilets were often neglected and grew concerned that the topic was shrouded in embarrassment and apathy; discussing toilets was taboo! He believed this stigma contributed to the overall neglect of restrooms island-wide. In 1998, he established the Restroom Association of Singapore (RAS), with the mission of raising the standards of public toilets in Singapore and around the world. Through RAS, Jack aimed to put Singapore on the “world map” by taking the initiative to provide clean public toilets. As he began his work in Singapore, he realized that other toilet associations were operating in various countries.

It soon became clear that there were no channels available to bring these organizations together to share information, resources, and facilitate change. There was a lack of synergy. As a result, in 2001, Jack founded the World Toilet Organization (WTO) and, four years later, the World Toilet College (WTC) in 2005.

In 2004, Jack was awarded the Singapore Green Plan Award 2012 by Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) for his contributions to the environment. In 2006, he was invited to launch the German Toilet Organization in Berlin and is also a founding member of the American Restroom Association. In 2007, Jack became one of the key members convening the Sustainable Sanitation Alliance (SuSanA), comprised of over 130 organizations active in the sanitation sector. He is also an Ashoka Global Fellow and was named a Hero of the Environment by Time magazine in 2008. Additionally, Jack sits on the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Councils (GAC) for Water Security and Social Entrepreneurship. He was shortlisted for the Sarphati Sanitation Award in November 2013.

About WTO

Founded in 2001, the World Toilet Organization (WTO) is a global non-profit committed to improving toilet and sanitation conditions worldwide. WTO empowers individuals through education, training, and the creation of local marketplace opportunities to advocate for clean and safe sanitation facilities in their communities. Breaking the silence on the sanitation crisis is at the heart of WTO’s efforts. The organization established World Toilet Day and the World Toilet Summit in 2001, followed by the World Toilet College in 2005. Through its various initiatives, WTO continues to provide an international platform for toilet associations, governments, academic institutions, foundations, UN agencies, and corporate stakeholders to exchange knowledge and leverage media and corporate support in an effort to promote clean sanitation and public health policies.

In 2013, WTO achieved a key milestone for the global sanitation movement when 122 countries co-sponsored a UN resolution tabled by the Singapore government to designate November 19 as World Toilet Day, officially recognized as a UN day. The World Toilet Organization was granted consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 2013.

For additional information about Jack Sim and WTO, please visit http://worldtoilet.org