| Title of the project: | Sustainable School Sanitation |
| Project Area: | 9 rural schools of Dacope Upazila under Khulna District of Southwest Coastal region of Bangladesh |
| Project Duration: | December 2008 to November 2009 |
| Beneficiaries: | Students (1264 girls, 1072 boys), 92 teachers, School Management Committee (SMC), Upazila Teachers Association (UTA), Upazila Education and Health Official, Union Parishad-UP (Local elected body as a local government). |
Short description of Project:
The Southwest coastal region of Bangladesh is a vulnerable region due to its geographic location and low elevation (barely one meter above the sea level). Dacope Upazila (sub-district) under the Khulna district of the region, where the status of health and hygiene is very poor and the awareness level at the dimming condition. The sanitation status and behavioral practice is below the mark and resulting in suffering of the community due to waterborne diseases. The whole region has also been neglected and deprived of normal development for decades, resulting in poverty much above the national average. The people mainly depend on Natural resources, but their access to natural resources is very meagre. The situation of safe water and sanitation facilities is risky.
In this context AOSED has taken initiative to develop and establish effective school sanitation system in rural area of climate vulnerable southwest coastal region of Bangladesh with the cooperation of SIMAVI, Netherlands.
Objective of the Project:
To improve sanitation infrastructure and proper health hygiene practices through enhance knowledge, information and capacity of students and provide better sanitation facilities in the vulnerable rural educational institutions.
Key Activities of the Project:
Formation of Sustainable Sanitation Campaign Group; Development of Campaign Materials and teachers training module; Teacher Training; Conduct class room sessions; formation of School Sanitation Management Committee with separate fund; provide sanitation facilities in student competition, Parents’ Day.
Achievement:
Capacity, skill and knowledge enhanced of the rural students on proper practices of health-hygiene, improved sanitation facilities in rural educational institutions.
Developed school sanitation management and maintenance mechanism with own fund. A special room has been set up for menstrual period of the girls’ students. At least 72% students have shared their knowledge of hygiene and sanitation with their family members. Specially, absence rate of the girl students has been reduced.
