Jordan Acted

VIDEO: Children’s theatre brings life-saving information to camp communities on Global Handwashing Day 2020

The 15th October is Global Handwashing Day, a global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives.

Given the limitations placed on life in Jordan due to the Covid pandemic, especially in the crowded refugee camps of Zaatari and KAP, ACTED's team sought alternative ways to promote the day's key messages. This led to the production of a virtual celebraton which combines theatre and video to reach camp residents.

This year’s theme, “Hand Hygiene for All,” focuses on the importance of handwashing.

ACTED’s team was determined to go beyond the familiar ‘post-Covid’ approach of Zoom calls and webinars to spread the messaging, calling in the services of young volunteers to help create a short theatrical play to explain the importance of handwashing and water conservation in the camp. Involving children in the activities brings a far greater appeal to the messages which resonates far better among the population of the camps which are home to high numbers of children.

ACTED is sharing videos of the play with the community through social media platforms and will also conduct targeted virtual awareness sessions with groups of camp residents.