DR Congo - Kalemie: Handwashing, the First Line of Health Protection at School
At the entrance of a primary school in Kalemie, pupils do not rush to their classrooms. Their first stop is a simple handwashing station, a bucket with a tap, soap, and a stand. The gesture takes seconds, yet it makes all the difference. In these schools, handwashing is not a rule posted on a wall; it is a habit taught, reinforced, and protected because it prevents illness and helps keep children in class.
In the Kalemie territory of Tanganyika Province, recurrent floods and fragile infrastructure increase exposure to diseases. Hygiene, therefore, is not optional. It is a condition for students’ health and uninterrupted learning. As Mr. Nicolas Prince Baeleay, Director of Tanganyika Education Province 1, puts it:
“There is a resurgence of certain diseases, notably cholera, so we need to improve WASH infrastructure and also handwashing facilities and the water supply to schools.”
Visible Challenges, Daily Risks
Most schools face clear gaps: too few water points, insufficient or damaged latrines, and missing or unusable handwashing stations. When children go to the toilet or return from play without washing their hands, they risk carrying germs that can quickly spread.
From July to December 2025, World Vision DRC, with support from World Vision USA, is addressing these gaps through an integrated WASH project in 10 primary schools, reaching 6,140 pupils. The approach is simple:
Equip schools with safe latrines, water points, and functional handwashing stations.
Embed lasting behaviour, especially handwashing with soap, through awareness, teacher training, and student‑led hygiene brigades.
The objective is not only to upgrade infrastructure but to make schools safer, healthier places where children can learn without avoidable interruptions.
A High-Risk Health Context
The situation is urgent. A Ministry of Public Health epidemic note from May 2025 reported more than 18,385 cholera cases and 364 deaths since the beginning of the year. Kalemie is among the most affected territories. In schools, cholera and diarrhoeal diseases lead to absenteeism, fatigue, and learning loss.
A rapid WASH assessment conducted at the start of the project revealed alarming conditions. On average, 87 girls share one latrine stance, far above recommended standards. Some schools have only two latrines for more than 100 pupils. Mr. Baeleay does not mince words:
“For one hundred pupils, we have only two latrine stances in violation of hygiene standards.”
Such gaps undermine every other hygiene effort. Without water, soap, and accessible handwashing points, sanitation remains incomplete.
Simple Stations, Real Change
To address this, World Vision has installed handwashing kits in all targeted schools, visible, reachable, and strategically positioned near latrines, classrooms, and eating areas. This eliminates common obstacles such as “there was no soap”or “I didn’t find where to wash my hands.”
The change is already visible. Junior, a 12‑year‑old pupil, explains: “Before eating, I didn’t think about soap. Now I tell myself: if my hands are dirty, I’m the one bringing germs.”
Another pupil, Meschack, 10, proudly adds:
“At home, I tell my brothers: ‘We don’t touch porridge with dirty hands.’”
These words show how school-based hygiene learning reaches entire households.
Empowering Children as Actors
Beyond infrastructure, the project develops sustainable habits through teacher-led sessions, hygiene modules, and strengthened student hygiene clubs. These young leaders check water and soap, guide peers, and reinforce handwashing routines.
Aline, 13, a hygiene brigade member, explains her role:
“Every day we check if there is water and soap, and we remind others: after the latrines, we wash our hands.”
Mr. Baeleay calls these groups “health and environment brigades,” noting their role in monitoring hygiene points across the school.
As Amani, 13, summarizes: “We’re not here to punish. We just remind people: ‘Hands first.’ If one of us gets sick, tomorrow there are fewer of us in class.”
Building What Lasts
To ensure sustainability, the project supports school committees, maintenance plans, teacher engagement, and community involvement. As Mr. Baeleay stresses, “Management is a partnership between government, partners and communities.”
Hands First: A Small Act, A Big Protection
In Kalemie, handwashing has become more than a hygiene rule. It is a protective gesture that keeps children healthy and learning. Supported by accessible facilities and empowered pupils, it delivers what communities need most: practical, lasting change.
The message children repeat each day captures it perfectly: “Hands first.”