Clean Homes = Healthy Children

Behaviour & Attitude Change, the Key to Success

The Water School program is positively transforming attitudes and behaviour in the benefiting communities here in Uganda. Not only are we seeing tables of Water School water bottles in the sun, we are also seeing an increase in pit latrines and tippy taps in homes. This tells us that people are grasping the notion that we need clean water as well as clean homes and clean hands.

Our program in the Busia district in Uganda began in July 2010. This project is a great example of how community ownership can make a difference in the success of a project.  Local leaders have embraced the program and work hand in hand with Water School Uganda staff, community based organizations and government health workers provided by the District Health Office to reinforce the important message of clean water, sanitation and hygiene.

It has been observed that households enrolled in the Water School program are marketing the approach to their neighbors who in turn are eager to be enrolled too. So far, the Water School project in Busia has trained and equipped 1,105 people in the last year.

The Busia Office of District Health Services has noted significant health improvements and behavioural changes in areas of the district where the Water School program has been implemented and is keen in rolling out the program to the entire district in the near future.

Water School’s impact has become increasingly evident on the ground, with greater numbers of households becoming aware of and starting to practice the Water School program. Our hope is to reach as many communities as possible with this sustainable, local and accountable approach to clean water for life.

Zepha Mukalere, Executive Director of Water School Uganda