Global Team for Local Initiatives Helping People Help Themselves

Sustainable Behavior Change

Creating outcomes that last.

New wells provide clean water and reduce disease – but only if the community keeps the water clean.

Pit latrines provide sanitation – but only if people use them.

One of the greatest challenges is achieving results that last – because lasting results require behavior change. Often, they require giving up long-familiar practices in favor of new ones that are less convenient. (Why use a latrine when open field defecation is so easy?)

The Hamar designed their pit latrines to look like bushes to mimic traditional practice.

GTLI’s core competency is motivating communities to transition from unhealthy behaviors to healthy ones.

We believe that in order to change longstanding behaviors, communities must be internally motivated. Rather than being “trained” (the traditional approach), they must learn to identify their problems and discover their own, culturally congruent solutions.

To encourage this internal motivation, GTLI uses a learning method called Community Based Learning in Action (CBLA).

These proud, pioneering families will only use pit latrines. No more open field defecation.