Public Screening and hygiene training in Kibera, Nairobi

09.07.2010 | Kenya

This event was attended by more than 400 young people from the area, all of whom completed the WASH United hygiene training.

Nairobi, 3.07.2010: In Nairobi WASH United in collaboration with Ghetto Radio FM hosted its much anticipated public screening event and hygiene traning on Saturday July 3rd at Kibera Raila Village in Nairobi.  

Kibera the largest and most densely populated informal settlement in Nairobi is located 7 kilometers south west of Nairobi in Lang’ata Division and infamously referred to as the largest slum settlement in sub-Saharan Africa with over 700,000 people living on less than 550 acres (110 hectares) of land.

The public screening event was more than just an opportunity for the more than 400 participants to watch what turned out to be an action packed game of football, but more importantly an occasion for the residents of Raila Village and indeed Kibera to participate and engage in raising awareness on the need to accelerate access to water and sanitation and hygiene promotion.

The event attracted both young and old, adults watched from the sidelines as children filled out their WASH United raffle tickets that consisted of three evaluation questions on water, sanitation and hygiene and one question to test their knowledge of the ongoing World Cup. The raffle draws were exciting and educational, offering children an opportunity to discuss the questions, submit their raffles and cross their fingers as they waited for the raffle draws every 45 minutes. Raffle prizes included WASH United branded t-shirts, miniature World Toilet Cup games, WASH United posters and stickers.

In addition to an engaging raffle draw, WASH United had on site two World Toilet Cup games that stimulated the audience to begin discussion on sanitation, toilet use and availability. While experience and expertise varied in making the shots, the discussion was very similar when it came to sharing experiences on access to sanitation. Champion photo opportunities were made available to the audiences, proudly saluting water, sanitation and hygiene with the WASH United gesture.

To highlight how easily germs spread and to highlight the importance of washing hands with soap, children played the Blue Hand Game and the Hand Washing Challenge. Hygiene education plays a key role in informing children and adolescents of the importance of safe drinking water, adequate sanitation and good hygiene to prevent disease and to promote good behaviour. Both games were demonstrated by students from St. Christine's Primary School Kibera, Shadrack Kimalel Primary School Kibera and Our Kid Foundation Kibera. The message resonated with the audience – always wash your hands with soap like the football superstar Mariga, who is Champion for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene)!

The public screening event was facilitated and supported by staff from Hakijamii Trust, Christ the King Catholic Church - Office of Human Rights, Our Kid Foundation, Maji na Ufanisi, Foundation of Hope and WASH United.

WASH United braved logistical difficulties, including accessing electricity, water supply and toilet facilities, and convincing service providers of their security to bring the message home to the residents of Kibera and was rewarded with a heartwarming reception from Kibera. For many children, this was the very first time they were watching a projected football match. Many cheered wildly even for replays not knowing the difference. From the backdrop of the public screening event, there was the constant reminder from the sea of tiny shacks and winding waste water that there was indeed a great urgency to increase national efforts to accelerate access to water and sanitation and increase awareness on hygiene promotion and the economic damage caused by diseases, and productivity losses related to unclean water and poor sanitation.