After ten years of recurrent military and political conflicts, the educational system in Central African Republic and school infrastructure in particular are in a rundown state. In the countryside, most of the schools, when they still exist, are often rudimentary structures. Classes are crowded and pupils do not have any other facility than the surrounding nature to defecate. With UNICEF support, ACTED in CAR has just finished the construction of six primary schools as well as adjacent latrines. The project aimed at improving hygiene practices of the 2,500 pupils and 20 teachers for a sustainable support to children education in Bamingui-Bangoran, Nana-Grebizi and Ouham departments.

Taking due note of the children’s lack of knowledge about hygiene, daily workshops were organized in every school. Sensitizers used explicit image books, illustrating daily life situations and covering general topics such as latrine use, different hand washing techniques and the importance of washing one’s hands before/after meals and after stools. They insisted not only on the necessity for children to have a good personal hygiene but also on the importance of sanitation and cleanliness within schools through waste storage, school latrine and water tap maintenance, etc.

In addition to theoretical courses, sensitizers organized game-related ballads with children in school playgrounds and surroundings to identify water-related problems, improve their understanding and correct bad practices such as children outdoor defecation.

Like their children, parents were involved in the project, providing raw materials and joining maintenance and hygiene committees, also composed of pupils and teachers, created and equipped to ensure the durability of the project and children education by providing adequate and clean school structures, for which each individual has been personally involved.