We fund yearly projects in association with UNICEF. Our key objective
is to increase school attendance by eliminating obstacles preventing children from accessing education such as poverty, hygiene,
sanitation and access to water.
(Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH)
hand-washing Program)
With support from 3P Learning and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s NGO Cooperation Program (DFAT), UNICEF is ensuring children in Myanmar have access to safe water and basic sanitation facilities, including toilets and basins so they can stay healthy and keep learning.
Access to clean water and basic sanitation facilities reduces disease and parasites in children, keeping them healthy, happy and in school. The program will enable 190 primary and middle schools of Chin and Kachin States (16,000 children) to have improved access to safe water sources and sanitation facilities.
Often prior to working with UNICEF, schools won’t have bathrooms, they won’t have a space for girls to change sanitary items. It’s really powerful to see how the program makes a difference to their lives.
A 2010 School WaSH survey carried out by UNICEF in partnership with the Ministry of Education found that less than 50% of schools have adequate hand washing facilities and only 25% have adequate toilets. In some communities, open defecation and poor hygiene practices remain common, spreading disease and parasites in children. This means they get sick more often, miss out on school, and their parents need to take time off work to care for them, losing much needed income.
Let us introduce you to Thant Shin (Mister Clean). This little puppet and his friends are teaching school children in remote Myanmar the importance of washing their hands after using the toilet.
These girls are loving having fresh water at their school in Myanmar. They now have safe drinking water, private toilets, and basins where they can wash their hands. Better still, the runoff from the handwashing basins is recycled to water the school’s garden.
These little girls are making the most of the new handwashing stations at their school in Myanmar. Although it sounds simple, handwashing with soap is essential to prevent disease and keep children healthy.
“My sister and I now only use our own water bottle for drinking and no longer want to share the communal cup,” says this little girl, pictured with her sister.
“One girl stood up to speak and broke down in tears. She said before she had to take days off when she had her period, but now she can come to school. She said the program had given her a sense of dignity. This is very common to hear – girls who were missing out on school but can now pursue their education and future to their full potential,” says UNICEF Australia water and sanitation expert Aaron, who has just returned from one of our programs in Myanmar.
“Before the training we thought there was no problem in our school. Afterwards, we realised we need to do a lot more for menstrual hygiene management,” says U Maung Oo, a member of the Parent Teacher Association at a UNICEF supported school in Myanmar.
No girl should have to miss out on school because they have their period. UNICEF is supported by 3P Learning and DFAT’s Program to make this a reality in Myanmar, helping schools to build bathroom facilities and break through taboos. Since UNICEF started working at the girls’ school in Myanmar, the children have all started using their own water bottles and always wash their hands after using the toilet. With better hygiene practices, kids stay healthy meaning they can stay in school and keep learning.
61 schools out of the 190 targeted schools, representing 5,196 school children, now have improved hygiene practices and equitable and sustainable use of safe water and basic sanitation services at school. Planning and implementation will be continued for the remaining 129 schools.
You are helping 3P Learning and UNICEF make all this possible. Thank you for helping us supporting this vital work!
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