Clean drinking water and hygiene are an important component in the prevention of diseases. This has been brought home to us once again by the Corona crisis.
The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project is designed to provide not only clean drinking water but also important hygiene. With WASH, wells are built to supply people with sufficient drinking water. At the same time, WASH raises awareness among local people about the importance of hygiene.
How does it work?
It is assumed that children are a particularly important factor in the spread of hygiene measures. Therefore, they are already introduced to the topic in school and thus also in lessons. With their help, it is also possible to reach the older generations, who then implement what the children tell them at home from school. In this way, the risk of becoming ill can be significantly reduced.
It is especially important for women to learn these things, as they need hygienic conditions during their menstruation even more urgently than men. Girls and women are thus supported in yet another direction to protect them from infections.
Moreover, the people concerned are not radically forced to change their way of thinking. Through universal languages such as music, art or sports, people are slowly introduced to more hygienic ways of living. At the same time, this promotes community among each other.
Unfortunately, building a well does not solve the problem. The well has to be maintained, sanitary facilities have to be installed and also maintained, just to mention a few things.
In order to ensure that people are not dependent on others in such situations, they are also given the knowledge they need to take care of these problems themselves.
In order to be able to pay for possible repairs, the use of the well is subject to a fee. However, the amount to be paid is based on what the people have at their disposal, because the amount should not be a reason not to use the well.
So care is taken to ensure that people have access to the well in any case, but at the same time their independence is promoted so that they will no longer be dependent on outside help at some point.
