Living Hygienically - ម័យតាមសាលារៀន ក្នុងការរស់នៅដែលមានសុខភាពល្អ

Initially, a 3-month hygiene pilot project was introduced to reduce absenteeism because of diarrhoea caused by poor hygiene and sanitation.

The partners in Education, selected three rural village schools in Pechreda District with poor health/sanitation.   We, Socheat, a VSO health volunteer,  and I with our VA’s, visited these rural schools to meet and assess the directors and teachers for their support and ability to participate in a 3-month hygiene pilot project. 

Pou Kreng Village School in Srae Ampoum Commune, and Poutil and La Mes Village Schools in Bousra Commune were the targeted schools for the first part of this project.    Reaching these village schools on the motorbike meant driving on rutted slippery muddy roads for 10 to 20 kilometres off the paved road.  

On our arrival, we discovered that only one of the schools had a functional water supply and none had latrines.   Teachers and students talked about the lack of hygiene in their schools and the high rate of diarrhoea among the children.  Most students had experienced diarrhoea and many had stories to share about what it felt like to be sick and to miss school.   None of the students were washing their hands at any point during the day due to lack of supplies such as clean water or water supply, soap, washbasins and more.  After lengthy discussions with teachers and directors, they  appeared eager to participate in the project and already showed an understanding of the link between improved hygiene and improved health and school outcomes. 

3 months later, because we saw a great need for hygiene improvement throughout the village schools,  Socheat, my VA and I selected 3 more rural village schools:  Kumamekong, Poch’ryChang and Poch’ry Village Schools in Buchiri Commune were selected to extend the same 3-month hygiene pilot project that was previously done in Srae Ampoum and Bousra Commune.    This was as a result of the  'Holistic' Survey that directors and teachers were given earlier in the year.  They saw the needs of ''The Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory" and agreed that they wanted a Hygiene Workshop demonstration (and more) tied to the 'CFS Living Hygienically Curriculum' done in their school.

                                                           

Teachers and directors from the 6 selected village schools attended a preparatory one-day training workshop (in support of the CFS Dimension – Living hygienically) on an introductory good hygiene practices.  The purpose was to train and coach teachers to educate their students on the importance of sanitation.   

Following the training workshops, a ‘Hygiene Fun Day’ was held in the schools to provide the students with health education on basic hygiene. Local community members were also invited to take part.  Children participated in interactive activities lead by teachers and VSO volunteers including a life-size snakes and ladders hygiene game that rewarded good health behaviours and sent you down the snake if you forgot what ‘good sanitation’ looked like.  Teachers and students enjoyed the introduction to new learning games.  

After the demonstration each classroom was provided with a 3-month supply sanitation materials.   Also, students from targeted schools were invited to design ‘Living Hygienically Posters’ to assess their understanding about hygiene ‘What does Hygiene mean to you?’   

As for La Mes Village School, one of the school we visited: It is important to note that this Village School is unique in that it is situated in a settlement owned and operated by a Vietnamese company. When we arrived at La Mes  Village Village School for the ‘Hygiene Fun Day’, the school was empty except for the onsite teacher who told us that the children were at the rubber plantation helping their parents collect sap.   Following our request for possibility to conduct the ‘Hygiene Fun Day’ workshop, the onsite teacher headed to the rubber plantation to ask the Vietnamese guard permission to assemble the community to participate in the Hygiene workshop.  20 minutes later, another teacher, students, parents, and a Vietnamese official arrived at the school to join the onsite teacher.  The Vietnamese official and parents looked on with wonder whilst teachers and students had a fun time participating with the interactive activities.  Despite the delay, despite the initial onset at La Mes Village School, we were pleasantly surprised to see smiling parents who appreciated the value of the workshop.  As they left the school, everyone, every parent, every student and children shook our hands and ‘humbly’ thanked us all. 

Since, we have returned to all the village schools to monitor their progress.  From our observation, it was evident that teachers and students had taken on the ‘Living Hygienically’ challenge with enthusiasm.  Teachers and students created schedules for students to assist in cleaning washbasins,  carry water from the wells nearby  each morning and more.   Also, both teachers and students tracked progress on their fun graphs showing that they were able to demonstrate proper techniques in living hygienically .  They appeared to be well aware of how germs are spread and how diarrhoea can be prevented. They also appeared to be more responsible for their own learning of what it means to ‘Live Hygienically’ without being prompted from their teachers.  

After one of our visits at one of the schools, we were once again pleasantly surprised to find that older students reminded everyone to wash their hands before returning to their classroom.   Although these are small changes and students still lack access to water supply or clean water supply, to a latrine at school, we are confident that through time, students will demonstrate long-term behaviour changes and evidently will become leaders in hygiene education within their school.  From these several hygiene training, it is hoped that students will also be able to disseminate this valid information amongst families and within their communities.  

by Tracy / Alice - Health and Education Cuso/ VSO Volunteers

More later ... :)