The Ambassador’s Schools WASH initiative is a three year program that started in July 2009. It is intended to provide water, sanitation and hygiene education to children in 15 schools globally and to raise awareness about the importance of safe water and sanitation. The Millennium Water Alliance (MWA) in partnership with the Global Water Challenge (GWC), Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Rotarian Action Group (WASRAG) and Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, in the Department of State (OES) will identify countries and schools and implement the WASH activities.
Read more: A-WASH Fact Sheet on the Global Water Crisis
The objective of the initiative is to raise awareness about the importance of safe water, adequate sanitation and hygiene lessons in primary schools across the globe. Safe water, sanitation, and hygiene programs in schools lead to better health and educational achievement among primary age school children as well as impacting family practices as the children bring new practices into their homes. By addressing the water and sanitation crisis other areas of human development such as health, education, poverty and women’s issues, are positively impacted. Investing in water, sanitation and hygiene programs at schools has shown to be an effective way of approaching the problem.
This initiative provides an opportunity for the Ambassador or other high-ranking official of the United States government to engage with local governments in Africa, Central America, and Asia and assist them in making a credible and long-lasting budgetary commitment to water and sanitation in schools.
The expected results of this initiative include:
- Provision of sustainable access to improved water and sanitation services and increased hygiene awareness in at least one school in 15-20 target countries. The school(s) will act as a model for replication and scaling.
- At least two public outreach events at each model school to highlight the importance of water, sanitation and hygiene.
- Local and national media coverage of activities at target school(s).
