"For me, talking about Total Coverage Forever means that all communities have good water and sanitation service; therefore, students must be taught to take care of water and hygienic services from school, teach them good hygiene practices and bring this knowledge closer to the family" (Elvira).
At the Palmira school (Cascas), teachers are committed to generating in students practices that make visible the valuation of water and sanitation services; as well as the adoption of a responsible environmental awareness.
In the classroom, in addition to the courses established in the school curriculum, they also teach the student various health practices such as: drinking safe water to avoid parasites, they teach that diarrhea is prevented with adequate hand washing, mainly using soap and water, before eating and after going to the bathroom. They teach them to correctly use and maintain toilets as a sanitary barrier to prevent contamination and the spread of diseases; Likewise, the correct use of taps to avoid wasting water.
"I remember that 10 years ago our bathrooms were latrines, now we have the privilege of having safe and private toilets, as well as beautiful laundry rooms. Our obligation is to keep them in good condition and clean," says Professor Elvira.
The teacher appreciates the training provided by Water For People that helped strengthen the teachers' capacities, which allowed them to include thematic educational sessions related to water and sanitation.
"With the training, the teacher has been able to wake up and become aware that talking about water and sanitation is more than a sink and a bathroom [that ensure access to services]. Talking about water and sanitation is teaching the student about the habits of adequate hygiene, good practices for the care of the school water and sanitation system, teaching that we are all responsible for its care and in this way we also take care of the environment and contribute to the progress of the community" (…) "Teachers, we have the "responsibility to train the student to be a responsible citizen and he, in turn, teach his family and community by example," Elvira concludes.
The Palmira school is one of the pioneers in having an interactive Water For People water and sanitation classroom, a recreational teaching-learning space that contributes to raising student awareness for the assessment of water and sanitation services, in addition to caring for the environment. atmosphere.
