Context:
Inculcating the habit of handwashing with soap among school-going children goes beyond just protecting their health. Children are incredibly influential within their families and communities. When they practice good hygiene habits, it can positively influence their parents, siblings, and peers to do the same. They become powerful change-makers! By promoting handwashing with soap among children, we can not only safeguard their health but also create a ripple effect of positive hygiene practices that extends to their homes and communities.

Purpose:
Project Safal Shuruaat successfully integrated Lifebuoy’s renowned “School of 5” handwashing campaign assets into its School Contact Sessions to raise hygiene awareness and promote the significance of handwashing with soap among school children. The engaging session introduced five superhero characters – Dhoom, Dishoom, Dhamaka, Bhalu, and Tara – who champion handwashing with soap on key occasions. Through fun play, songs, storytelling, and dance, the children are taught about the five essential moments for handwashing – before breakfast, lunch, and dinner, after using the toilet, and while taking a bath. The activities emphasize the importance of handwashing in preventing illnesses and keeping germs at bay and also help them learn the correct steps of washing hands with soap. Additionally, a 21-day handwashing challenge encourages students to track their progress on HWWS in a self-monitoring diary, while an enrollment activity card spreads awareness among parents and families. The session culminates with a pledge taken by the students to always wash their hands with soap and water.
The purpose of these interactive sessions is to educate and empower children with the habit of proper hand hygiene on key occasions. The School of 5 materials, including posters, challenge cards, and other engaging assets, are instrumental in making handwashing a regular habit for school-going children. For sustained behaviour change, the School of 5 elements are complemented by sensitized teachers and principals to create a conducive school environment.  Teachers are encouraged to set up a functional handwashing station at the school and also to appoint student monitors for overseeing hygiene-related tasks. Appointed student monitors are mobilized to ensure the availability of soap at the handwash station, ensure students’ adherence to handwashing routines before meals, and promote handwashing through slogans on blackboards and School of 5 posters displayed prominently throughout the school. 

Target Groups:
6-15-year-old school-going children, Teachers and Principals

Duration:
30 minutes

Required Resources:
5 Key Occasions of HWWS Poster,  Steps of HWWS Poster, 21-day HWWS Self-monitoring diaries, Enrollment Cards, Pledge Poster, Glo-Germ Demo Kit

How to Use:

• Facilitator to introduce the programme and orient the principal and teachers on its purpose
• Get the required permissions to conduct the session with students
• Gather 60-75 students from primary and secondary school sections 
• Conduct the session with students with the help of ‘School of 5’ assets

• Introduce 5 superhero characters and their story to sensitize students about the 5 key occasions of HWWS through fun and play.
• Teach students the 10 steps of HWWS through song and dance.
• Conduct the glo-germ demonstration to illustrate that visibly clean hands may not be truly clean.
• Distribute and explain the use of the 21-day self-monitoring diary among students.
• Sensitize teachers on their role in the campaign and facilitate the appointment of student monitors. Orient student monitors on their responsibilities and how to carry them out.
• Distribute enrollment cards among students and explain how and why to enrol families using the card to commit to good hygiene practices.
• Take the handwashing pledge with the students to reinforce their commitment to the practice.