District Marks Global Handwashing Day
On 15 October 2021 Rotary Clubs across District 9212 marked Global Handwashing Day by impacting 60 schools and communities across the region and directly impacting slightly over 50,000 beneficiaries. Rotarians and Rotaractors were able to demonstrate proper handwashing technique, distribute soap and handwashing stations, launch sustainable water systems, plant trees and donate books.
This year the District teamed up with Unilever Kenya who donated Ksh one million worth of Lifebuoy soap for the day. Davis and Shirtliffe have also donated 5 handwash stations with a pledge to donate 70 more within the next weeks. The 2021 theme was “Our Future is at Hand – Let’s Move Forward Together”.
Speaking during the soap handover ceremony, WASH Country Chair Dr. Patrisio Njeru said that washing hands has been demonstrated as an easy way to save lives through the prevention of communicable diseases. He thanked the partners who had come on board to collaborate with Rotary; Unilever Kenya led by Lifebouy Brand Manager Cindy Munyiri, Davis and Shirtliff CSR Coordinator Nur Riday and PZ Cussons Brand Manager Diana Nelly for donating soap and handwash stations for the day.
“I want to sincerely thank the Rotary clubs for putting in the effort to make the day a success by providing more soap, menstrual kits, hand wash posters, hand wash stations and training.” he said.
Snapshot of Some of The Activities on Global Handwashing Day
BUSIA COUNTY
- Rotary Club of Busia
School 1: Kingandole Primary School
Activity: Handwash station handover
School 2: St Paul’s Buderia primary school
KAJIADO COUNTY
- Rotary Club of Ongata Rongai
Name of school: Arap Moi Primary, Nkoroi.
Activities Distribution of soap2304
Beneficiaries: 2274
Collaborators: Unilever
- Rotary Club of Ongata Rongai East
Name of School 1: Ole Kasasi primary school
Activities: Handwashing training, soap distribution (1872)
Beneficiaries: 1,400
Collaborators: Unilever
Name of School 2: Oloosirikon Secondary school
Activities: Handwashing training, soap distribution
Beneficiaries: 400
Collaborators: Unilever
- Rotary Club of Kitengela
Name of Community: Inchurra community, Amboseli
Activities: Borehole handover, watering point, handwashing station platform, and soap distribution (508), sanitizers, menstrual hygiene packs distribution (40)
Beneficiaries: 500
Collaborators: Davis&Shirtliffe, Ford Foundation, Unilever
Rotary Club of Nairobi Connect
Activities: Handwashing training, tree planting (20), Book donation (400)
Beneficiaries: 467
Collaborators: RC Ridgeways
- Rotary Club of Muthaiga
School 1: Kiserian Primary School- 2600 bars of soap donated
School 2: Embubul Primary School – 1600 bars of soap donated
Activities: Handwashing training (have ongoing training courtesy of active WASH projects at the schools) and soap distribution.
Beneficiaries: 4,200
Collaborators: Unilever (soap donation)
KIAMBU COUNTY
- Rotary Club of Gachie
School 1: Holway Junior School, Ruaka
Activities: handwashing training, distribution of soap (432 bar soaps), 48 teachers received hand sanitizer, easy-to-read handwashing posters were put up in strategic, easy-to-locate areas within each school’s compound to constantly remind the pupils on the right steps to take while washing their hands, tree planting (5 tree seedlings).
School 2: Gachie Primary School
Activities: handwashing training, distribution of 1296 bar soap, 30 seedlings were planted.
Collaborators: The Rotaract club of Gachie IF members were also present and donated 122 sanitary packs to the older girls at Gachie Primary School.
- Rotary Club of Kikuyu
Nachu Primary and Regutti Primary
Activities: Handwashing training, distribution of soap 1100 , donation of 100 litres of liquid soap, distribution of 2 hand wash stations and donation of food supplies
Number of beneficiaries :1200
Collaborators- Unilever (soap donation), LifeCare Hospitals (Nurses for training) and Rotaract Club of Kikuyu
- Rotary Club of Thika West
Name of school: Paul Mbiu primary school, Gatanga
Activities: Handwashing training, soap distribution 720, distribution handwashing posters
Beneficiaries: 666
Collaborators: Unilever
KIRINYAGA COUNTY
- Rotary Club of Mwea.
Name of School: Ngurubani primary school
Activities: Hand washing training, distribution of 936 lifebuoy pieces of soaps, 3 hand washing stations and snacks/biscuits for pupils.
Beneficiaries: 1500
Collaborators: Unilever
- Rotary Club of Kirinyaga
School 1: St Joseph Primary school
School 2: St James Kiaritha primary
Activities: Demonstrating handwashing, soap distribution (1008)
Beneficiaries: 1,000
Collaborators: Unilever
KISII COUNTY
Rotary Club of Kisii- Central
School: Nyoera PAG Primary school
Activities: Distribution of 2 handwashing stations, distribution menstrual hygiene packs (300), soap distribution (50ltrs liquid soap, 300 bars of soap), PPE (25boxes masks), mentorship
Beneficiaries: 550
MACHAKOS COUNTY
- Rotary Club of Athi River
Name of School: 1)Athi River Primary school and 2) Kanaani Integrated school
Activities: Hand washing training, distribution of soap Athi River Primary (1,800) and Kanaani Integrated (1,080)
Beneficiaries: 2,880.
Collaborators: Unilever
MAKUENI COUNTY
- Rotary Club of Emali
Name of school: Entaretoi Primary School
Activities: handwash training, donation of sanitary towels
Beneficiaries: 189
Collaborators: Unilever
MERU COUNTY
- Rotary Club of Nkubu
School: Shalom Children home school.
Activities: hand washing, promotional health messages and donations of soap
Soap: 720pcs
Beneficiaries:600 pupils benefited.
Collaborators: Unilever
- Rotary Club of Nairobi Muthaiga North
Name of School: Rwongo Rwa Nyanki Primary School.
Activities: Book Donation (300), Tree planting (150), Handwashing training, soap Donation (120)
Beneficiaries: 450
Collaborators: Aviva Technologies (book donation)
NAIROBI COUNTY
–Rotary Club of Muthaiga
School 3: Our Lady of Mercy Primary School 1,200 bars of soap donated
School 4: Shauri Moyo ,Jogoo Road Primary School 400 bars of soap donated
School 5: St Brigid Primary School 350 bars of soap donated
Activities: Handwashing training (have ongoing training courtesy of active WASH projects at the schools) and soap distribution
Beneficiaries: 1,950
–Rotary Nairobi Thika Road
Name of School 1: Kariobangi North Primary School
Activities: Hand washing training, distribution of soap (792 PCs)
Beneficiaries: 800 pupils plus teachers
Collaborators: Unilever, Community Health Volunteers, Board of Management.
Name of School 2: Garden Estate Primary School
Activity Conducted: Hand washing training, distribution of soap (720pcs)
Beneficiaries: 700 pupils plus teachers
Collaborators: Public Health Office Roysambu sub county (drinking water, additional posters & hand washing training). Chief, sub county education office
- Rotary Club of Karen
Name of School: Karen C Primary school
Activities: High capacity water storage facility, ablution block, hand wash station platform
Beneficiaries: 1,300
Collaborators: Rotary Club of Woodland, RI. Unilever
–Rotary Club of Embakasi
Name of School: Embakasi Primary School
Activities: Hand washing training, Distribution of soap 1152 pcs, motivational talk to the students
Beneficiaries: 1200
Collaborators: Unilever
- Rotary Club of Nairobi Magharibi
Name of School: Plainview Primary.
Activities: Donation of 5 handwashing stations, soap
(1440) and tree planting (110 trees)
Beneficiaries: 1400
Collaborators: Unilever and Davis & Shirtliffe
- Rotary Club of Nairobi Langata
Name of School: Don Bosco Boys Centre
Activities: Handwashing training, soap distribution, sanitizers
Beneficiaries: 326
Collaborators: Unilever
NAKURU COUNTY
- Rotary Club of Nakuru
Name of school: Crater Primary School Nakuru
Activities: Donation of liquid soap (20 litres), menstrual hygiene packs distribution (228)
Beneficiaries
NYERI COUNTY
- Rotary Club of Karatina.
Name of School: Ngunguru Primary School
Activities: Handwashing training, Distributed soap (648), Distributed 5 handwashing units, tree planting (13 tree tomato plants).
Beneficiaries: 512
Collaborators: Unilever, Detrex
UASIN GICHU COUNTY
- Rotary Club of Eldoret, Uasin Gishu
Name of School: St. George’s Primary School
Activities: Handing over of a solar power system donated by Davis & Shirtliffe. Handwashing training, Soap distribution (560 tablets of Lifebuoy soap), , menstrual hygiene management training(MHM), donation of reusable pads (30).
Beneficiaries: 588
Collaborators: Davis & Shirtliffe (solar power system) , Unilever (soap)