Teachers Forum
September, 2001

"We have 13 teachers and more than half (7) are women. From a three-day training session we have learned a lot. Not only about the transmission route of diseases from human faeces to mouse, but also how personal hygiene can prevent children from contracting diarrhoea and other water-related diseases. The training session also introduced the "Learning with Joy" kit that I found very helpful in our dialogues with school children. We also spent some time discussing a school plan for organising ourselves (teachers) and the children to maintain the constructed water and latrine facilities properly."

Children learn better when they participate and talk. Colourful, funny and child-friendly pictures in story cards are attractive and draw children's attention to the main subjects concerning hygiene. "I told the story the first few times. Later on, I asked for a volunteer from the class to help me tell the same story. You should have seen the children's eager eyes and hands raised. They all wanted to do what I had done: stand in front, hold the cards and tell their classmates the same story, using their own describing words. It was amazing to see how talented and brave they are these days."

As the project uses both the child-to-child and child-to-adult approaches in teaching, the messages learned in the classroom were spread by the children, first to their families, then to the community as a whole. "I not only tell the children to practise hand-washing before eating and after using the latrine, I always remind them to tell their siblings and family to do the same."

She reported that school latrines were built before the teachers were trained in hygiene education. "At the beginning, it was very difficult to encourage children to use the latrine. Washing their hands was not a usual practice for the children. Although the importance of cleanliness and personal hygiene had been stressed by the children's parents and teachers, no-one had really discussed in depth how important they are as primary tools for children and their families to protect themselves from illnesses such as diarrhoea. We understood better how the practice of good hygiene could improve our health. With such highly participatory and interesting games, that encourage children to speak up and play, they learn and remember the messages better."

Hygiene is not a major subject in primary school, but the "Learning with Joy" kit is used in other subjects and areas such as Lao language, the world around us, recreation sessions and mathematics. "In the card game Do-Do Not, children enjoy reading, talking, thinking and making their own decision as to which of two boxes they will put the cards with such messages as "wash your hands before eating", "put your thumb in your mouth", etc.

Manuals for teachers were provided after the training, so they can always be referred to. "The manual guides me in core hygiene messages that children must know, such as what kind of diseases can be prevented by clean water and proper use of the latrine. So, I feel more confident teaching hygiene topics".

In addition, the project subsidised the purchase of construction materials and supervised the building of a block of four latrines with a urinal area on one side and a water tank for hand washing on the other side. School teachers helped in discussions with the community on their participation in the project. Through the parents' association the community contributed local materials and labour for construction. Later, a well-wisher from abroad donated funds to build a water reservoir.

"We have 463 children and more than half (241) are girls. Children are aged between 5 and 10 years old. There are 12 classrooms for grades 1 to 5. Before, we would tell children to maintain personal cleanliness but there was nowhere the children could go for clean water and latrines".

The water and sanitary latrine facilities help children not only build healthy behaviour; they also help build a spirit of responsibility and teamwork from a young age. "Every day, one teacher and a group of children take turns cleaning up the toilet block and surrounding area. Now, every one knows how to use and clean up the toilet."

This hygiene education training has reached all 18 provinces in the country. Since 1996, more than 3,000 trained primary school teachers have been using this approach, leading children in the hygiene education game. At present, about 300 kits have been distributed. One kit will be handed over to each school after all teachers at that school have received the training.

This assistance from UNICEF is in line with cluster school and teacher training programs, and aids teacher development while providing materials for primary schools, especially those in rural areas.

Bounnem expresses her hope that all primary schools will be provided with "Learning with Joy" kits. "How I appreciate having this kind of material to help teachers build up healthy behaviour and better hygiene practice in children who are, after all, the future of the country."

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