School Health and Hygiene for Mayan Children

In March our school health and hygiene projects engaged new community members through the creation of WASH Support Committees and the introduction of our Student Hygiene Brigades.

WASH Support Committees were initiated in the elementary schools of Panimaquip, Totolya, and Tzanchaj. Each committee is represented by the school director, a teacher, a representative from the Student Hygiene Brigade, and three parents from the school. The groups meet regularly to support the schools in finding and implementing solutions to the challenges of maintaining water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure and good health habits.

For example, in the community of Totolya, the WASH Support Committee encourages healthy behavior despite the frequent water shortages that occur in the school. To address these water shortages, parent committee members suggested that each student bring water from home that can be used for hand-washing. Thanks to their input, local families in Totolya are now encouraging new ways to further good hygiene habits.   

Our Student Hygiene Brigades also began their monthly meetings in March. These groups of six student representatives from the 4^th and 5^th grades were established in the schools of Panimaquip and Totolya. The students were chosen because of their interest in WASH classes and serve as role models for healthy behaviors and educate younger students on the benefits of washing hands with soap.

By involving students, parents, and school personnel in decisions regarding sanitation infrastructure and in disseminating hygiene information, we empower community members to champion healthy practices in their communities. As a result, we have more support for community health initiatives and see healthier habits being practiced by students, their families, and throughout rural communities in Guatemala.