This project provided hygiene education and filtration systems to students attending 18 schools in Mirebelais, Haiti

Narrative

Most schools in Haiti lack even basic water and sanitation facilities and school hygiene education programs are rare. Improved access to potable water in schools coupled with hygiene education can reduce the incidence of waterborne and hygiene related diseases. These interventions also improve school performance and attendance, especially for girls and they promote dignity and self esteem. Hygiene education when integrated into the school curriculum encourages good hygiene, sanitation and water handling practices. When children adopt safe hygiene behaviors at a young age, they can carry them into adulthood and further influence future generations. 1. Schools need assessment: The schools were each visited and the needs and program components were identified and discussed in collaboration with each school director. Input from each school director was addressed and the capacities of the program were reviewed and agreed upon. The expectations and commitments from each school regarding the specific components, in particular hygiene education and maintenance of the filters were discussed.
2. Hygiene promotion teacher course: Hygiene education is a critical element of the program. Each partner school contracted to send personnel to a three day animator course taught by PWW hygiene trainers. The institutions were required to complete the course prior to the filters being installed. The schools also receive a set of hygiene posters and display easels and curriculum materials. The course materials and training tools are to be used to teach the hygiene education curriculum in their respective schools.
3. Filter installations: A total of 52 filters were installed in the schools. Each school received between two and five filters depending on the student enrollment and the institution's water capacity. They also received separate water storage and water collection buckets.