Staff and learners at Naluxolo Primary School in Samora Machel were thrilled when the school received a Jojo tank and hygiene packs for deserving learners.
At least 1 340 hygiene packs, valued at about R200 000, were donated to the learners. The donation was made by Clicks Helping Hand Trust together with Unilever and Lifebuoy on Wednesday 12 October.
Among others, the packs contained a toothbrush, toothpaste, face cloth, sanitary pads, and soap. The event formed part of the Global Hand washing Day, celebrated on Saturday 15 October.
The initiative is aimed at encouraging hand washing using soap as a way to tackle the spread of diseases and to save lives. The theme for this year is ‘Unite for Universal Hand Hygiene’.
Nadia Stander, senior brand manager for Unilever and Lifebuoy, described the event as a global movement to drive education and awareness about the importance of hand washing.
It is aimed at primary schools in underprivileged communities.
“We teach them the key messages of hand washing, the importance of hand washing, steps and methods to wash their hands. In the past five years, we have reached 5 million learners,” she said.
School principal Mzikabawo Mpisane hailed the event as a good initiative.
He said they planned to use the tank to save water for irrigation of the school garden and flushing of toilets.
“The tank will help us to save a lot of water and that will help us to minimise the water bill. It (tank) will make a huge difference,” he said.
Mpisane added that the information that the learners will receive during the event will be shared with their peers in their communities to raise awareness. He also stated that the hygiene packs will assist them at home.
“Most of the learners come from disadvantaged communities. They don’t have money to buy all the necessary things,” he said.
On the day, learners were allowed to create handprints on the school wall after the hand washing demonstration.
