The “Three Star Approach for WASH in Schools” is a UNICEF’s advocacy which: (a) emphasizes daily group activities to improve the effectiveness of hygiene promotion while ensuring that children have access to clean sanitation facilities and drinking water at school; (b) encourages support from host communities and does not depend on expensive hardware inputs, and (c) continues the goal to build capacities for bringing drinking water, improved sanitation and hygiene education to schoolchildren across the globe. This is in line with the post MDG agenda which defined a clear goal and recommendation on “universal access to WASH in Schools by 2030.” Last November 18, our group held a program in Venus Elementary School and celebrated the National Toilet Day. Students from grades one to six participated in the event.
Our group started by coordinating with the Venus Elementary school teachers dated November 14, 2016 and introduced to them what this program is. This meeting involved the first and most important stage which is: when a school commits to the overall approach. In the said meeting, the faculty admitted that their school’s status is a “no star school” which means that their hygiene promotion is limited and they lack WASH infrastructures. On the same day, we also scheduled the program for the National Toilet day.
The program started at 9:00 in the morning. It was composed of three activities, the first activity was the poster making contest with the theme “Ang akung nasabtan bahin sa kalimpyuhan”. This was participated by 16 students from different grade level. The second part focused on Information and Education Campaign. We taught the children the importance of toilet sanitation, and how to properly wash their hands. Lastly, we prepared a game for them which involved questions and activities that also served as an assessment of what they have learned during the IEC earlier.
It was refreshing how participative and receptive the children were.
The “Three Star Approach for WASH in Schools” will help schools become more effective at providing a healthy environment for all children and promoting positive hygiene behaviour.
This step is just a start in scaling up the school’s status to a “Three star school”. Our group is looking forward to how this program will affect the children especially on their behaviour which would have a great impact in their health and for the community in a bigger picture.
