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Banda Aceh , Indonesia — The bell rings, and it’s break time at SDN Neusok Teubaluy. The 123 elementary students storm outside into the sun – like students in any Aceh school. But before they start to play hide and seek and eat their snack, they take their turn at the water barrels to wash their hands with soap. This makes them different from most other students in Aceh, where good hygiene practices are rare. For the kids at SDN Neusok Teubaluy, however, cleaning up before and after play is already a routine, one can see it immediately. Each student is carrying their own little bag with soap, toothbrush, toothpaste and a little towel. After washing and drying their hands, they carefully put everything back into the little bag and store it in the class cabinet. Then they go back outside to play.

The school is part of a pilot project funded by UNICEF and implemented by IRD. In 14 schools, IRD has trained the principals, teachers and 10 students (“peer educators”) in proper hygiene practices and how to promote good hygiene behaviors to students and families. For six months, IRD staff conducts daily hygiene promotion activities in these schools, for example singing songs about hygiene, playing educational board games on how to prevent diseases, etc. Today, grades 1, 2 and 3 are painting the big garbage bins which are placed all around the school.

“Before classes start, we all brush our teeth together”, says the principal of SDN Neusok Teubaluy. For most students, it is the first time they own a toothbrush. The principal is very relieved that his school is part of the UNICEF program and feels it is his responsibility to continue the activities even after the project ends in December. Finally, he says, they have enough water and sanitation facilities to organize hygiene promotion. SDN Neusok Teubaluy was rebuilt by UNICEF because the original school was severely damaged by the earthquake on December 26, 2004. However, he said, the old school only had two toilets anyway – by far not enough for the number of students and teachers.

“Now, we have to find a way to have hygiene promotion become part of the curriculum and to get a budget for soap and other tools to help students learn about proper hygiene behaviors,” he adds. Already, the change in his students is amazing, he says. “They are enjoying being clean and taking care of their environment.”

He receives great support from the 10 peer educators which were trained by IRD. “I watch out that everyone uses the trash can”, says 5th grade student Sariana. “And I myself have learned a lot about how to wash my hands with soap many times a day and how important it is to throw away the trash and always boil the water before drinking. I did not care about these things before, but I do now because I don’t want to get sick”. And their “work” does not end when school is out. “I showed my mom how to wash hands properly, and now everyone in my family is doing it”, one other peer educator says proudly.

The bell rings – school is out. But before the students leave, they lock up their hygiene kit in the classroom cupboard.

(October 2007)