The partnership between Sesame Workshop and World Vision that is teaching children how to use clean water, wash hands and how to properly use the latrine has expanded to 11 countries--including three where Syrian refugee children are living in settlements. Enjoy the photo essay below and then learn more here.
Being witnesses to the brutality of war in Syria and growing up in a refugee settlement affects children deeply. Millions of children are now facing challenges no child should ever endure, missing school, working as child labourers, poor physical and mental health and girls vulnerable to early marriage.
This is why World Vision brings them to its psychosocial centres in Lebanon to learn to express and handle their feelings.
These centres are a safe space where children can be children again, where they can learn through play and have fun.
Safe from bullets and bombs Syrian children are now at risk from other threats including poor health which is why Sesame Workshop and World Vision are running the Wash Up! programme for local children in Lebanon and also in Jordan and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Using books, videos and play mats the Wash Up! programme teaches children good habits regarding proper water use and storage, sanitation and staying clean and healthy. All material are designed to be appropriate to the local contexts.
All the teaching material features two muppets: Elmo and Sesame’s new character who teaches children about proper hygiene, sanitation and water use: Raya.
Raya’s blue green skin colour and her outfit were designed to appeal to all children. She’s as welcome in Lebanon as she is in Zambia or India. A true citizen of the world!
What child doesn’t learn better when they are having fun? Children say they love Raya and Elmo and that they learn a lot from them about proper hygiene and sanitation. Though not everyone gets to meet Raya in person like Fatima.
The power of the Wash Up! programme, which Sesame Workshop and World Vision has also run in Africa and Asia, is that it empowers children to become change agents in their community.
Children are equipped to share with the friends and families such healthy habits as wearing sandals to the latrine, storing and using water properly and thorough handwashing: one of the most important ways of protecting children’s health.
This year’s Global Handwashing Day theme is “Our Hands, Our Future”. The partnership between Sesame Workshop, World Vision, Syrian children and their families is a fun, but effective method of ensuring a healthier future for young Syrian refugees and their families.
