News & Learning

26 Aug 2019
News | Viet Nam

Lessons in WASH That Make the Grade In Schools

by Belinda Abraham

Back to school is an exciting time for children all over the world. Ideally, following a long summer break, children have an opportunity to get new uniforms, clothing, shoes, school books, and supplies. They enter clean classrooms with functional facilities, renovated and painted over the summer months. They meet refreshed teachers eager to start the new year. When this combination of happy students, clean environment and receptive education authorities come together, this leads to the wonder of learning, creating and expanding the possibilities that children have with education.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) recognizes the importance of this integration. Under SDG 4, schools are not only places for academic learning, they must also promote health and be safe places. These objectives are supported with specifically articulated targets for health and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). These sectors are also represented in SDGs 3 for Health and 6 for WASH.

Over the years, Thrive Network’s programs have recognized that the key to education lies beyond just the school building and curriculum. It is the opportunity for schools to become exciting places of learning where the education sector takes responsibility and leads in the development for the next generation. Several initiatives have shown positive results in school attendance, health and overall outcomes for children. Under the Dubai Cares supported program, here’s what Thrive Networks and partners have learned, as lessons that bring change in schools:

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At the heart of our programs are strong partnerships with government, private sector, civil society groups, and local communities. We also implement learning and feedback strategies to strengthen our approaches to promoting gender and socially inclusive WASH practices in our partner communities.