The Royal Health Awareness Society (RHAS) and World Vision International have recently signed a cooperation agreement to implement hygiene promotion activities in 34 public schools in Amman, Irbid, and Mafraq in current school academic year 2015-2016. These activities fall under the “Emergency Water, Sanitation and Hygiene –Friendly Schools and Education Support” project in Jordan, which is implemented in coordination with the Ministry of Education and funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Canada. Moreover, more than 20,000 Jordanian and Syrian children in host communities are projected to benefit from this project.
The project –which has already started- aims to improve access to safe water supply and sanitation in targeted schools, and to promote and sustain positive hygiene behavior in 34 public schools. The project also aims to ensure consistent access to education through conditional cash assistance by supporting vulnerable families in covering children education expenses.
The 12-month project consists of school-based and community-based interventions. These interventions include rehabilitation of the water supply network and sanitation facilities, increasing the students’ awareness on hygiene practices in general by implementing school hygiene promotion activities, and supporting teachers and school staff in conducting weekly hygiene awareness sessions and other school-based activities.
RHAS was established in 2005 under the direction of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah to promote health and empower Jordanians to adopt healthy lifestyles and behaviors. RHAS's community-based projects are implemented in accordance with the needs of the communities and revolve around national health priorities.
World Vision international is a faith-based humanitarian, development and advocacy organisation, working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice in almost 100 countries worldwide. World Vision has a history of working in Jordan for more than 10 years, and has been working with local partners and authorities to respond to the needs of children affected by the Syrian crisis here since March 2013.