Change Agents

Bringing Clean Water to a community is joy, change, and hope, but providing clean water that lasts depends on a comprehensive model of strategic interventions. World Vision invests in Children and key Community Stakeholders to strengthen skills, competencies, and abilities in order to produce long-term, life-changing results.

WASH In Schools

Girls In SchoolWorld Vision constructs water points to reach an average of four schools a day. Not only does this bring safe drinking water to schools, but World Vision’s WASH development model also includes providing gender-separated, disability-friendly latrines and hand-washing facilities with soap for the students and teachers. World Vision also includes a Menstrual Hygiene Management component in the health education curriculum.

Sanitation and hygiene in schools increases the enrollment and attendance of students, particularly girls, improves student achievement, and decreases WASH-related illnesses in students. But simply providing WASH resources is not enough. Cultural understandings and behaviors must be changed in order to ensure the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene resources are implemented for success.

Children are eager learners and effective change agents. World Vision establishes WASH Clubs in schools to leverage the power of children to engage their schools, families, and communities for positive change. In WASH Clubs students are educated for healthy hygiene practices and trained to lead hygiene and sanitation campaigns, which effectively reach into their cultural contexts and create important change.

VWASH Committees

Pump Schedule

Pump Cleaning Schedule established by the VWASH Committee

In preparation for bringing clean water to a community World Vision requires the Village to form a WASH Committee. Not only do these community members provide oversight and implementation for the care and maintenance of the water point, but they also help lead the way to cultural, behavioral changes that are necessary for the successful long-term impact of clean water.
These people are trained in safe water handling and storage practices, as well as the importance of latrines and hand-washing. Open defecation is an example of cultural behavior that threatens the success of clean water in a community. Community Hygiene Champions (Promoters) are critical in the training and messaging that is necessary to change this practice.

Government and Traditional Leaders

World Vision partners with the Zambian government and also engages regional chiefs and their royal councils in order to bring sustainable water to the people. Traditional leaders play a critical role in the development process and World Vision works closely with them to create community capacity for good WASH preparation and practice.

For example, As part of the Village Preparation for clean water, every household must prepare 6 important elements (Latrine, Rubbish Pit, Hand-Washing station, Bathing Shelter, Raised Dish Rack and a Water Storage Container with Lid) and the village headman has authority to ensure compliance. Ultimately the regional Chief could make a family move from his chiefdom if they refuse to participate in the Sanitation preparations and adopt healthy practices. World Vision’s successful WASH program depends on good relationships with these leaders.

Meeting Chief Moyo

Meeting Chief Moyo and his Wife and Daughter

In July, the 2015 WaterAfrica Travel Team met with Chief Moyo at his home in southeast Zambia. We asked the Chief to describe his vision for the development of his chiefdom in the coming 5-10 years. He hopes for 100% water coverage: “Water piped to every home” – along with 100% adoption of healthy Sanitation practices. He anticipates this can be achieved with the help of School WASH programs. He would like to see improved educational facilities and expanded road access, which would improve economic opportunities for his people. Chief Moyo told us he’d like even to see electricity come to his people.

Clearly these are ambitious goals, but Chief Moyo understands that access to clean water combined with good sanitation & hygiene practices clears the initial obstacles for sustainable community development. World Vision partners with Chief Moyo and other critical stakeholders in order to build community capacity for good Water, Sanitation & Hygiene.[one-third-first]

Meeting Chief Moyo

[/one-third-first][one-third]Meeting with Chief Moyo [/one-third][one-third]Meeting Chief Moyo3[/one-third]

 

Clean Water splashes & ripples to fullness of life – creating communities where children thrive!

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