JEN Hand Washing Day Activities in Zaatari

On Thursday, the 10th of October, JEN participated with many other NGOs in activities to mark the Global Hand washing Day in Zaatari Camp. Hygiene promoter staff supported and assisted by the community mobilizers of JEN were divided into three teams to cover   and celebrate the event in Districts 3,4 and 5. The activities were organized to focus on the importance of hand washing and how this can prevent the occurrence of some serious diseases if it is done properly and in the right time and way.

【JEN staff is gathering children from the camp and leading them to the area where events and activities are held】
At 9 am, JEN staffs initiated the day with a rally in each district with an aim to gather the children (fig 1), who held banners and posters announcing the starting of the hand washing day program and asking all to join them to the area of the activities. Everyone was singing and shouting, “Come on everybody, let’s begin the day!” It began by a short drama stressing the importance of hand washing and how maintaining a good personal hygiene can save lives and keep away germs and diseases. JEN staff selected some Syrian children in Zaatari Camp a day earlier and invited them to take part in this drama performance (Fig 2). They gave each child his/her role. These children acted really well and all were motivated as they learned the necessity of hand washing from this role-playing, which was then followed by doing demonstrations on the appropriate way and steps of washing hands with guidance of JEN staff.

【Part of the drama presented in the program】
 Activities included games, plays, hand washing demonstrations, kite-making, flying balloons and a puppet show followed. Children were divided in groups to assure that each and every one had the chance to participate in each activity taking the age factor into consideration.

【 Hand washing demonstration】
  Children spent a lovely time and showed great interest in drawing posters illustrating positive hygiene behavior.

【 Drawing activity by some children】
 Others played some games in which those following the right hygiene manners were the winners and it was a real fun to all. JEN staff were guiding them and encouraging the children by giving them gifts such as soaps.

【 Snake and Ladder game focusing on positive and negative hygiene behavior】
 When the special day was about to end and the events were nearly finished, participants were still active and energetic. Even JEN staff started to sit in circles showing the children how clean hands mean a body free of germs and all were saying, “The power is in our hands.”

【 The power is in our hands】

By the end of the day, children started to leave the event area. All were extremely happy, singing and repeating what was all said and still carrying the posters and banners back with them. With their lovely and smiley faces they waved goodbyes promising to keep on practicing good personal hygiene and to tell others who could not attend the event what they saw and learned. All were excited and the day was so joyful that everybody wished it would never end.

【 Returning back holding posters with GHD messages “Soap is my friend, it keeps germs away from me”.】

Dr. Saba Younis Hygiene Promotion(HP) Manager – Zaatari Camp

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