An example from Uganda
UGANDA – Young people are effective advocates for environmental protection and for WASH – everything to do with water, sanitation and hygiene. Join For Water is convinced of this, and in Uganda an organisation such as JESE* is helping to drive the initiative forward.
In the districts of Kamwenge and Kitagwenda, JESE organises activities and training sessions in schools to inspire and inform boys and girls and encourage them to take action. Thanks to their new insights, these boys and girls become influencers who have a positive impact on their fellow pupils and the people around them.
It starts with the formation of clubs, such as environmental and WASH clubs, enabling the pupils themselves to play an active role in the initiatives. This covers waste management, keeping the school grounds and latrines tidy, practising good hygiene habits, and so on. Teachers guide them through this process. This is followed by educational sessions for all pupils.
The training sessions ensure that pupils:
- know how to use a hand-washing facility correctly,
- realise that they should eparately collect waste,
- understand that they must contribute to keeping the school clean,
- become ambassadors for their fellow pupils and families.
Specifically, JESE recently supported the Bunoga and Busabura primary schools in the Kamwenge district and the Nyakacwmba and Nyakeera primary schools in the Kitagwenda district. The training sessions focused on making reusable sanitary pads and liquid soap.
Read below what the pupils themselves have to say.
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* JESE = Joint Effort to Save the Environment
Read also: Where water ambassadors are born | Join For Water
