School kids brush up on hygiene

(06-11-2007)

Students at Phuc Thuan I Elementary School observe a test to check the cleanliness of their local water supply. — VNS File Photo

THAI NGUYEN — "When do you need to brush your teeth?"

Nguyen Hien Bach from the Phuc Thuan I Elementary School stood confused over this very simple question during a question and answer game at the school.

Fortunately, after a few moment’s hesitation, the little 6-year-old boy finally found the answer through the help of his loud and over-excited friends in the audience.

Asked why he hesitated, the first grade student shyly explained that at home he brushes his teeth just once a day after getting up.

"But now I know that I should also brush them before going to bed and after every meal," he said, smiling broadly while eagerly opening the package of gifts awarded for the right answer.

The question and answer games, which aimed to educate students on basic health issues related to hygiene and the environment, was just one of many held at the Elementary School to celebrate World Water Monitoring Day, an international educational programme to improve people’s awareness of the status of global water resources and increase their participation in protecting them, held annually from September 18 to October 18.

This year, the programme was organised by Church World Service (CWS) Viet Nam as part of their "Community Water System and Education Development" project, which has invested US$68,000 since 2006 toward improving kindergarten and primary school education, as well as hygiene awareness in students and villagers, by installing a modern water system in Phuc Thuan Commune, Pho Yen District, Thai Nguyen Province,70km away from Ha Noi. The funding for the project comes from CWS Viet Nam’s partner organisation in the US, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

In September, the project finished construction of a filtration system that provides clean water to two local schools, the local clinic, the post office, the office of the People’s Committee and 80 households in the surrounding area.

"Today’s activities, and the project in general, support local authority’s efforts to improve health and environmental protection awareness, as well as develop infrastructure such as classrooms, toilets and a clean water supply system," said Tran Van Ai, vice-chairman of social affairs on Phuc Thuan Commune’s People’s Committee.

"The children’s events might be the most important. They are the ones who will apply what they learn about water and sanitation so that when they grow up, they will know how to protect themselves and the community," said Ngo Quoc Dung, CWS Viet Nam Programme Manager.

Along with the question and answer game, the children also took part in hygiene focused activities like painting, singing and watching films.

They also learnt about standard quality indicators for the cleanliness of their local water by using specialised testing equipment.

This activity drew the curiosity of the children, as they had never seen this technology before.

"It is so exciting. I have never done this before," Do Tuan Anh, a student in the 4B class said excitedly while holding one of the containers of water taken from the nearby river.

Tuan Anh said he was so excited to have been picked as one of the five students who got to test the water that he eagerly woke up early that morning and couldn’t wait to go to school.

"People don’t have the chance to use this kind of equipment in their daily lives. But it’s a special way to make the children take notice, and remind them of the importance of using clean water," Dung explained.

Nguyen Thi Huong, the school’s principal also shared her opinion.

"This method of education is very useful, as it interests the children. Our students were excited about this for the entire week," she said.

"It is much easier to improve their knowledge this way than just learning about theories in a classroom," she said.

"I will no longer wash my hands in the river because the water is not clean," Tuan Anh said after joining the water-testing experiment. — VNS