Clean Hands, Healthy Bodies

I  have posted a lot about my experiences thus far, particularly my challenges and struggles in Guyana lately; I think it is about time to give you an update of something positive that has been very successful and rewarding. You are all probably wondering what the heck I actually do at my school. This isn't quite on point with my primary project (literacy), but Peace Corps encourages us to undertake what they call "Secondary Projects". This project was near and dear to my heart, specifically after the many repeated illnesses I have had since being here. The students at my school participated in a week long hand washing campaign to promote “Clean Hands, Healthy Bodies”. The campaign was in response to the infrequent hand washing habits of the students, and as a result, the frequent illnesses at the school of both the students and teachers (particularly, me!). With the Headmistresses support and encouragement, I prepared visual aids about germs and hand washing. These were hung in the school canteen so the students would be reminded to wash their hands before eating, and while waiting, would read about the other times to wash their hands and learn about germs. 

On  Day 1 of the campaign, I visited each class individually to make sure greatest absorption of the information was obtained... sometimes in the big groups I wonder what is actually retained, i.e. who was paying attention; can they hear the speaker? who even cares!  As soon as I mentioned an activity with shine shine (glitter) I had their attention.  I first explained what germs were, and we talked about how germs make a person sick. I called on the students to fill in as much information as they could on their own  to make sure the information wasn't over their heads (ex. What kinds of illness do you think are caused by germs? Where do germs come from? How do you think germs spread?). The main point was to explain to the kids that germs are spread from friend to friend through hand contact, coughing, and food/drink sharing - they are each responsible for their own health and the health of their friends. To demonstrate this point, we did the “Shine Shine Germs” activity. One student started with a handful of bright shine shine that represented diarrhea or the common cold germs. The student then shook hands with their neighbor, and then their neighbor shook hands with the next person and so on. This showed the students how far germs could spread even if you didn't touch the initial sick person. 

We then read a story that was written by a prior Peace Corps Volunteer several years ago called, Squirt, The Slimy, Gassy, Ooey, Gooey, Invisible, Diarrhea Germ. After the story, I picked a few students in to stand in front of the class and ask the other kids to find glitter in places other than their hands. This demonstrated that if you get germs on your hands, they spread quickly to other parts of your body and will ultimately travel to your clothes and face, and finally in your eyes and mouth (some students had glitter on their lips 5 minutes after the initial glitter activity).  The kids were shocked to see how quickly the shine shine traveled... this seemed to be a very effective visual exercise.

On Day 2 of our campaign, at the school assembly I taught the students the hand washing song sung to the tune “If you are Happy and you Know it, Clap your Hands” . With the singing and moving around, I had the kids attention. I explained the proper method for hand washing and we sang the song, which included hand motions a few more times through. After assembly, a Grade 1 student came up to me and handed me 4 bars of soap. This meant that he came to school with the soap even before we started the hand washing session. He saw the look of perplexity on my face as I pieced that fact together and said, his mommy sent them with him. I asked how his mommy knew to send soap and he told me that he went home on Monday and told her that I taught them about germs in school that day. This meant that he was sharing what he was learning at school, with his family. I actually teared up because as I am sure many teachers can relate to... I was wondering if the kids were sharing what I taught them with others, or if they actually retained the information. That afternoon (and the many days since the activity),  I saw several students at the hand washing station after using the washroom or before eating, singing their ABC's as they rubbed their hands with soap. Many students still come up to me several weeks after the activity notifying me they washed their hands. 

On Day 3 we discussed proper etiquette for if you do have a cold, particularly, the proper way to cough... into your inner elbow (which in my infancy and to this day call my "armbow"). I referenced the glitter activity, reminding the students that if you cough in the air, on your hands or in a napkin, the germs will be where you coughed and spread to your friends if they touch your hands or pick up your napkin. Since most people don't go around rubbing their inner elbow all over the place, this is the "safest and most thoughtful" spot to cough to keep your friends healthy.  Since the activity, several students have been demonstrated properly coughing into their inner elbow. One student actually coughed into her hands in the library and about five students yelled, “Germs!” She quickly jumped up and ran to wash her hands! 

On the final day of the campaign, the Grade 6 students wrote compositions from the perspective of a villainous germ. The kids really got into it and were very creative with their stories. They even got to design their own germ super-villain. As with every villain, I reminded the kids that their germ must have something, anything,  that will bring about their germs downfall. Not surprising, most of their germ villain's kryptonite was soap! 

This activity has definitely been one of the highlights of my Peace Corps service. I am seeing immediate positive changes in the students behavior following the campaign, and I am hoping that we see a decrease in illness related absences (including my own!)