During the month of July 2011, I did a whirlwind tour of three countries in two weeks, roundtrip. The last visit was touring UNICEF programs in Freetown, Sierra Leone. I was like a kid in a candy store. I was over the top excited to learn from this agency and get a better understanding of systematic approaches to programs like, WASH.
Thankfully, my assumptions held true. I will wave my flag high and proud to promote the works of UNICEF. I was so impressed with their dedicated team, the passion, the partnerships. Their investment isn’t ‘just aid’. Rather, its rebuilding, character development, and self-sustaining.
Here are photos from two schools that have adopted the WASH program for their students. Enjoy!
[Below is more information directly from UNICEF]
UNICEF works with government and other partners to create conditions for change – or enabling environments – to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of all water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programmes.
Working directly with community-based organizations and communities and families themselves, UNICEF helps to ensure that households have access to a clean and secure supply of water, and safe and convenient sanitary facilities. Through hygiene promotion – and especially the promotion of hand-washing with soap – UNICEF works towards maximizing the health benefits, focussing in particular on the survival, growth and development of young children.
UNICEF works towards making schools healthier and more attractive to children, especially girls, through WASH in schools programmes. Healthier children are more effective learners, and girls who spend less time fetching water have more time for school. Helping to build separate and decent sanitation facilities in schools can reduce dropout rates, especially among girls. And hygiene promotion in schools creates conditions where children themselves are agents of change in their families and communities.
UNICEF works in more than 90 countries around the world to improve water supplies and sanitation facilities in schools and communities, and to promote safe hygiene practices.
(Information sourced from www.unicef.org)
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