In Haiti, many children and adults have not had the opportunity to learn about the importance of proper sanitation and hygiene practices. What does that entail exactly? It means learning how to use a designated latrine rather than going to the bathroom anywhere outside (this is also referred to as “open air defecation”). It also means washing your hands, using toilet paper, teaching young women about their menstrual cycles and how to use a sanitary napkin, brushing their teeth, and how to dispose of trash properly.
In late November 2020, a group of parents at the National School in Archaie decided to collaborate to participate in the WASH* in the Schools program. This opportunity allowed them to learn about proper sanitation and hygiene practices.The parents realized that addressing proper sanitation and hygiene in the schools must be a group effort that should be attended to by everyone in the community – not just the school’s director.
To guarantee the sustainability of this initiative, each parent pays 200 Haitian Gourdes annually, to the “Friends of Hygiene Committee”. This ensures that their child will have access to use hygienic materials, such as: toilet paper, soap, sanitary napkins, supplies to clean the bathrooms, and a trash can for waste management as well as a designated hand washing station with treated water and soap.
Stay tuned for more stories on how this initiative has impacted students and teachers from the school!
*WASH = Water and Sanitation Hygiene.
