Project Launch:

Muhuru Bay in Kenya has a high HIV infection rate as well as problems with cholera and typhoid outbreaks. A grant from World Connect’s Kids to Kids Program supported “Helping Hands for Hygiene” in which student members of the Rabwao Secondary School Health Club installed four hand washing stations throughout Rabwao. These students also studied to become peer educators, informing the students of the school of the need for hand washing. They helped other students develop a basic understanding of hygiene through demonstrations, held discussions on how diseases are spread and how to combat them. The students not only improved in-school hygiene, but brought lessons home to improve the hygiene practices of their families. Because of the epidemic levels of HIV infection, many of these students live with family members who are infected and educating young people about hygiene and prevention proved a valuable public health measure.