March is Water & Sanitation Month

 

Clean water, better sanitation, teacher training, and hygiene education in schools can improve the health and education of children by creating a cycle of opportunity: improved education, increased school attendance, and improved academic performance.

 

The WASH in Schools Target Challenge is a pilot program created to motivate Rotary clubs to develop sustainable water, sanitation, hygiene (collectively referred to as WASH), and education projects using the expertise and resources available through two of Rotary’s areas of focus: basic education and literacy and water and sanitation.

 

The program will focus on measuring the impact that WASH and basic education and literacy initiatives have on school attendance. Rotary and UNICEF will recognize Rotary clubs and schools whose WASH in Schools projects achieve the benchmarks outlined below.

During the pilot phase, the program will run through July 2020 in five countries, all chosen for their strong, active involvement in school sanitation efforts: Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, India, and Kenya.

The first two levels (Rotary One Star and Rotary Two Stars) set benchmarks for water and sanitation facility upgrades, hygiene and menstrual hygiene education, and teacher training, along with key behavior change components; the third level (Rotary Three Stars) emphasizes incorporation into government initiatives and curriculum enhancement. Rotary and UNICEF will recognize Rotary clubs and schools that meet the requirements for the second and third levels.

 

Education: Teachers trained to teach hand washing, begin taking daily attendance, and supervise daily group hand washing at mealtimes.

 

For more information click: https://my.rotary.org/en/wash-schools-target-challenge