Global Handwashing Day: Be a Handwashing Hero

The multi-year theme for Global Handwashing Day is“Be a Handwashing Hero”

This theme encourages everyone — from children to leaders — to take action in their own spheres (homes, schools, workplaces, communities) to promote and enable good hand hygiene.

The importance of handwashing lies in its ability to protect health, prevent disease, and promote dignity and well-being — especially in homes, schools, health facilities, and communities.

Yet challenges such as access to water and proper sanitation remain barriers that too many of our children face daily.

Handwashing and sanitation are deeply connected, and promoting one supports the other.

Why Handwashing Matters to Youth:

1. Protects Their Health

Youth are highly exposed to germs — at school, during play, sports, public transport, and social gatherings.

Hands come into contact with germs that cause diseases like:

Diarrhea

Flu

COVID-19

Eye infections

Skin infections

Regular handwashing with soap reduces the chance of getting sick — especially from germs picked up after using the toilet, before eating, or after playing outside.

2. Improves School Attendance and Performance

Kids and teens who get sick often miss school, fall behind in class, and may struggle academically.

Diarrheal disease and respiratory infections are top causes of missed school days in many countries.

Teaching and practicing handwashing in schools leads to:

Fewer sick days

Better concentration and energy

Healthier school environments

3. Helps Break the Chain of Germs at Home and in Communities

Youth often care for younger siblings or help with chores like cooking, cleaning, or feeding animals.

Poor hand hygiene can spread germs to others, especially infants, elders, or people with weak immune systems.

When young people wash hands regularly, they:

Protect their whole family

Act as role models

Reinforce hygiene norms in their communities

4. Builds Lifelong Healthy Habits

Habits formed in childhood and adolescence often last into adulthood.

Handwashing becomes second nature if taught early and reinforced consistently.

This reduces disease risks throughout life and creates a more hygiene-conscious generation.

5. Empowers Youth as Hygiene Champions

Youth can lead by example:

Teaching peers how and when to wash hands

Running hygiene clubs at school

Leading Global Handwashing Day events

Handwashing gives youth a sense of responsibility and a simple, powerful tool to protect themselves and others.

Envirosan Sanitation Solutions provides innovative water-saving solutions for handwashing and sanitation, which have been implemented in over 200 schools and households, and in partnership with governments, NGOs, and international organizations.

We are not only conserving water but also reducing the environmental footprint associated with excessive water consumption.

Our products and systems are Agrément approved and are proudly developed and manufactured in South Africa

We are proud to be exhibiting at the IMESA Conference 2025

Visit us at Stand 58

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