School hygiene and sanitation in Tanzania – IDAY – Association Internationale Sans But Lucratif active en Afrique

A school hygiene and sanitation project in Tanzania.

The detailed description of the project is available here

Context of the project

With the support of the Elisabeth and Amélie Foundation and the King Baudouin Foundation, the IDAY Tanzania coalition has implemented a hygiene and sanitation project in two elementary school in the district of Bagamoyo.
The objective is to improve education by reducing the prevalence of water-borne diseases through the construction of infrastructures and the sensitization of the pupils and also to improve the schooling of the young girls, in particular during their menstruation, by making reusable sanitary towels and sensitizing them on gender equality. This project benefits 3507 students.

The project started in October 2019 and was successfully completed in June 2021.

Results obtained

> Construction and installation of latrines and hand washing facilities, installation of rainwater collection basins.
> Good hygiene practices are disseminated and applied through the creation of health and environment clubs in schools that have organized awareness-raising activities among their peers and families.
> Water-borne diseases (such as diarrhea, dysentery, typhoid) have decreased.
> School absenteeism has decreased.
> Female students have increased their attendance at school since they can manage their menstrual periods properly. Indeed, toilets and washbasins are reserved to them for this purpose.
> IDAY Uganda came to share its experience on the making of reusable sanitary towels.
> Gender equality is promoted thanks to the project.
> The excellent advocacy led by PFP led to the active involvement of the authorities who took charge of the construction of latrines in other schools of the district.
> Other NGOs are using the ongoing construction as a learning ground and benchmark for toilet construction standards, based on the WASH guidelines for schools in Tanzania.
> For effective and sustainable action, PFP has favored a participatory approach that: (1) acts in response to real demand, (2) builds the capacity of teachers and students for positive behavioral change, (3) directly involves community members in all key decisions, (4) cultivates a sense of community ownership of the project, and (5) uses appropriate technology that can be sustained at the school level.