FAQs
Amar Jyoti Foundation
The mission of Amar Jyoti Foundation is to create sustainable, resilient, and equitable communities by enhancing health, sanitation, education, economic opportunities, disaster preparedness, social justice, and environmental stewardship.
Amar Jyoti Foundation implements programs aimed at promoting health and well-being through enhanced hygiene, sanitation, and healthcare services, enhancing livelihoods and economic opportunities through education and micro-credit, strengthening community resilience through disaster preparedness and response planning, advocating for social justice and human rights to empower marginalized communities, and promoting environmental conservation and sustainable practices to combat climate change.
Amar Jyoti Foundation has achieved several impactful outcomes, including enhanced hygiene and sanitation practices leading to a decrease in illnesses such as diarrhea, cholera, and typhoid, better overall health and hygiene behaviors among the population through education on sanitation and hygiene behavior practices, increased school attendance, particularly among girls, due to improved sanitation facilities, and empowerment of marginalized individuals, especially women, through capacity building initiatives and economic opportunities.
Harpic World Toilet College Odisha Chapter
The primary objective of the Harpic World Toilet College Odisha Chapter is to improve sanitation practices and standards while uplifting the livelihoods and dignity of sanitation workers. This initiative aims to eliminate manual scavenging, drive behavior change, enhance sanitation facilities, provide access to basic rights, and develop comprehensive training programs.
The initiative aligns with Swachh Bharat Abhiyan by focusing on improving sanitation infrastructure, promoting hygiene practices, and ensuring the dignity and rights of sanitation workers. It contributes to the broader goals of creating a cleaner and healthier environment by addressing both the technical and social aspects of sanitation.
The College offers a range of courses including toilet building, professional restroom cleaning, and maintenance. These courses cater to various stakeholders such as government officials, WASH practitioners, community workers, and students, providing them with the necessary skills and knowledge to enhance sanitation practices.
The initiative supports the elimination of manual scavenging by providing education and upskilling opportunities for sanitation workers, enabling them to transition to more dignified and safer forms of employment. It emphasizes the importance of training and skills development to ensure sanitation workers can find sustainable and respectful livelihoods.
The initiative aims to significantly improve the livelihoods and dignity of sanitation workers by offering training and skills development programs that lead to better job opportunities, higher income, and increased self-worth. By fostering an enabling environment for knowledge-sharing and capacity building, it ensures that sanitation workers have access to dignified livelihoods and basic rights.
The Dettol School Hygiene Education Program
The main objectives of the Dettol School Hygiene Education Program are to foster a culture of hygiene among children and position them as change agents within their schools and communities. The program aims to promote hygiene education and practices, particularly handwashing, to reduce the incidence of hygiene-related illnesses and support the broader Swachh Bharat Mission.
The hygiene curriculum is integrated with the National Curriculum Framework and includes a Teacher’s Curriculum Manual, Student Workbooks, interactive games, puzzles, and 32 animated short videos. These resources are designed to make learning about hygiene engaging and effective, ensuring that hygiene education is a fundamental part of the school curriculum.
The BCC Kit is a comprehensive set of materials aimed at reinforcing hygiene messages. It includes teacher curriculum manuals, student workbooks, hygiene buddy kits, short videos, hygiene corners, banners, posters, and provisions for wall paintings. These resources help in delivering consistent and impactful hygiene education, making it easier for teachers and students to adopt and maintain good hygiene practices.
Several techniques are used to make handwashing fun and engaging for children, such as:
- Hand Washing Chart:A chart with key times for washing hands that children can tick off as a visual reward.
- Singing a Song:Teaching children to wash their hands for 20 seconds by singing their favorite song.
- Child-Friendly Setup:Creating personalized washing stations with antibacterial soap and allowing children to choose their own supplies, like a special towel.
Introducing Different Soap Variants: Keeping the routine interesting by introducing different soap bars and variants.
The program has educated and inspired 6,178 school children across 3 of the 10 targeted districts in Odisha. It has significantly reduced school absenteeism due to illness and fostered a sustainable culture of hygiene among students. The initiative has also successfully engaged students, teachers, and stakeholders, ensuring that hygiene education is a collaborative and impactful effort.
The Harpic World Toilet College Odisha Chapter
The main objective of the Harpic World Toilet College Odisha Chapter is to improve sanitation practices and standards while uplifting the livelihoods and dignity of sanitation workers. It aims to achieve this by providing education, upskilling opportunities, and access to basic rights for sanitation workers, thereby contributing to broader sanitation goals aligned with initiatives like the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
The Harpic World Toilet College Odisha Chapter offers a range of courses catering to various stakeholders including government officials, WASH practitioners, community workers, and students. These courses cover topics such as toilet building, professional restroom cleaning, and maintenance. They are designed to equip participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to improve sanitation practices and enhance livelihoods in the sanitation sector.
The initiative supports the elimination of manual scavenging by providing education and upskilling opportunities for sanitation workers. By improving their skills and offering dignified employment options, the initiative aims to eliminate the need for manual scavenging and improve the overall status of sanitation workers, ensuring they have access to basic rights, dignified livelihoods, and improved self-worth.
Children (Adolescent Boys and Girls):
Washing hands with soap removes dirt, germs, and bacteria that can make us sick, keeping us healthy and preventing the spread of diseases.
We should wash our hands before eating, after using the toilet, and after playing outdoors or touching surfaces that may be contaminated.
If soap and water are not available, we can use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol to clean our hands.
Clean toilets promote good health and hygiene, reduce the risk of illness, and create a more comfortable and pleasant environment for everyone.
We can help keep our school clean by disposing of trash properly, avoiding littering, and cleaning up after ourselves in the classrooms and washrooms.
We can politely remind them about the importance of handwashing and encourage them to wash their hands with soap and water.
Yes, using dirty toilets can expose us to germs and bacteria that cause illnesses such as diarrhea and stomach infections.
Covering our mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing helps prevent the spread of germs and viruses to others, reducing the risk of infections.
We can lead by example, share information about the benefits of hygiene, and encourage our friends to join us in practicing good hygiene habits.
We should report any hygiene issues to our teachers or school staff so they can take action to address them and ensure a clean and safe environment for everyone.
School Staff including Midday Meal Workers and Sanitation Staff:
We can ensure the cleanliness of the school kitchen and utensils by following proper cleaning and sanitization procedures, using clean water and soap, and maintaining hygiene practices at all times.
School toilets should be cleaned regularly, ideally multiple times a day, and supplies such as soap and toilet paper should be replenished as needed to ensure that students have access to clean and hygienic facilities.
School sanitation staff receives training on proper cleaning techniques, hygiene practices, and the use of cleaning products to ensure that they can effectively maintain hygiene standards in school facilities.
We can ensure the safe handling and storage of food by following food safety guidelines, storing food at the correct temperature, and regularly inspecting food storage areas for cleanliness and hygiene.
We should immediately report any sanitation-related issues or concerns to the designated school authorities or management so that appropriate action can be taken to address them promptly.
Policy Makers:
There are various policies and regulations at the national and state levels that outline the standards and requirements for sanitation and hygiene facilities in schools, including provisions for infrastructure, maintenance, and hygiene education.
We can allocate resources effectively by prioritizing sanitation and hygiene in education budgets, investing in infrastructure improvements, providing training and capacity building for school staff, and monitoring the implementation of hygiene programs.
We can promote collaboration by fostering partnerships between government agencies, schools, NGOs, community organizations, and other stakeholders, establishing communication channels for sharing information and resources, and involving local communities in decision-making processes.
We can incorporate sanitation and hygiene education into the school curriculum by integrating it into existing subjects such as science, health, and social studies, developing age-appropriate learning materials and activities, and training teachers to deliver hygiene education effectively.
We can ensure sustainability by providing ongoing support and monitoring, engaging local communities in program planning and implementation, building capacity within schools for maintenance and management, and integrating sanitation and hygiene into broader development
Educators:
We can incorporate interactive activities such as games, role-playing, and group discussions to make hygiene education sessions more engaging and effective for students.
We can use positive reinforcement, peer influence, and rewards systems to motivate students to adopt and maintain good hygiene habits both at school and at home.
We can integrate hygiene education into subjects such as science, math, and language arts by incorporating relevant topics and activities that reinforce hygiene concepts and practices.
There are various resources available, including educational materials, posters, videos, and online modules, designed specifically for educators to use in teaching hygiene education to students.
We can create a supportive environment by fostering a culture of cleanliness and hygiene, providing access to adequate sanitation facilities and hygiene supplies, and involving students in decision-making processes related to hygiene initiatives.
Faith Leaders:
Religious teachings often emphasize principles of cleanliness and purity, which can be applied to promote hygiene and sanitation practices within communities. Faith leaders can incorporate messages about hygiene into sermons, religious texts, and community events.
Faith-based organizations can collaborate with schools and other stakeholders by offering support, resources, and expertise in promoting hygiene education, organizing awareness campaigns, and providing access to sanitation facilities in underserved communities.
Faith leaders can use their influence and platforms to advocate for improved sanitation infrastructure and services, raise awareness about the importance of hygiene, and mobilize community support for sanitation initiatives.
Faith communities can support the implementation of hygiene programs in schools by offering space for educational workshops and events, providing volunteers and resources, and incorporating hygiene messages into religious teachings and programs.
Religious values and beliefs can be leveraged to promote behavior change by aligning hygiene practices with religious teachings, emphasizing the importance of cleanliness and health, and encouraging individuals to fulfill their religious duties by maintaining good hygiene habits.
Community Leaders and Other Stakeholders:
Community leaders can collaborate with schools by mobilizing resources, advocating for infrastructure improvements, and engaging community members in volunteer efforts to support sanitation and hygiene initiatives.
Parents and caregivers play a crucial role in reinforcing hygiene education messages at home by modeling good hygiene habits, providing access to hygiene supplies, and discussing the importance of cleanliness with their children.
Local businesses and organizations can contribute by providing financial support, donating hygiene supplies, offering volunteer services, or sponsoring hygiene education programs and initiatives in schools.
Strategies to ensure cultural sensitivity and inclusivity include consulting with community members, respecting local customs and traditions, providing materials in local languages, and involving diverse stakeholders in program planning and implementation.
Building partnerships and collaborations involves fostering open communication, identifying common goals and priorities, leveraging resources and expertise, and working together to develop sustainable solutions to sanitation and hygiene challenges in the community.
Communities can ensure sustainability by fostering ownership and responsibility among stakeholders, providing ongoing support and monitoring, integrating hygiene education into community programs, and promoting behavior change through continuous awareness campaigns.
A: Community leaders can engage youth by creating opportunities for them to lead hygiene education initiatives, participate in community clean-up activities, and serve as peer educators to spread awareness about sanitation and hygiene practices among their peers.
Community leaders can access resources and support from local governments, NGOs, and international organizations working in the field of sanitation and hygiene. This may include funding opportunities, training workshops, and educational materials.
Faith-based organizations can collaborate by offering moral and financial support, leveraging their networks and influence to raise awareness, and providing spiritual guidance and counseling to individuals and families affected by sanitation and hygiene issues.
Community-based organizations can play a key role in advocating for improved sanitation infrastructure and services by mobilizing community members, conducting advocacy campaigns, and lobbying local authorities and policymakers to prioritize sanitation and hygiene on their agendas.