By Albert Santoli | Project Leader
AAI-supported schools celebrate 2024 Global Handwashing Day!
In October 2024,in an annual awareness event conducted in elementary schools across the world, Asia-America Initiative supported schools in the Philippines"celebrated Global Handwashing Day. The purpose of this event is to increase awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap and clean water. "Since the COVID-19 pandemic, a growing number of communities have understood this as aneffective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives," says the head nurse at Haji Hassiman Higad Elementary School in tropical Sulu province, near Malaysia and Indonesia.
Asia America's Philippine schools emphasize the celebration with our teams, including our AAI Mini Nurses, attending 4th to 6th grade, who helped their professional school nurses demonstrate good hygiene routines to their fellow students.
"Consistent with their pledge of service," says Principal Merhama of Salih Yusah Elementary School in Jolo city, Sulu, "our mini-nurses are always ready to assist and raise awareness about the benefits of handwashing with soap. AAI helps schools to build clean water stations by providing building materials, tanks and other containers, faucets, and hygiene supplies including soaps and dental care items. Local parents and skilled volunteers provide the labor to build to hand washing facilities. We are involved in a total community process that extends good hygenic habits to families and neighbors."
This year, AAI local partner, International Pharmaceutical Inc. Foundation, donated thousands of bars of soap and other hygiene supplies for the schools participating in Handwashing Day!
The commitment of Asia America Initiative is to prioritize teachers and parents at our elementary schools to build clean water systems. With WASH facilities at each school, we also promote adequate nutrition through school lunches cooked by volunteer mothers. While we purchase sacks of rice, school-based gardens provide fresh vegetables for lunch using irrigation from rain and clean water catchment tanks. Soaps and other hygiene products improve children's overall health for better classroom performance and fewer days absent due to illnesses caused by sanitation deficiencies.
Your continued support is essential in keeping communities healthy and improving their quality of life. Girls' attendance continues to grow, which instills them with pride and self-confidence. Clean and bright classrooms, access to clean water, and a daily lunch keep girls and boys healthier and better prepared for academic studies.
If you feel inspired to add a donation or start a monthly gift, we encourage you to take the next step. By clicking through this report, you can sign up with GlobalGiving and play a vital role in providing clean water and nutrition for Muslim girls in the Philippines.
Please follow this link: Clean Water, WASH & Nutrition for 500 Muslim Girls
Thank you,
Albert Santoli,
Director, Asia America Initiative
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