Global Handwashing Day

October 15th has been designated as Global Handwashing Day by UNICEF. The day focuses on teaching children to wash their hands properly with soap and clean water. Every year, 1.5 million children under the age of five die from diarrhea-related diseases that are easily preventable by proper handwashing. Orphan Relief and Rescue has seen the need for handwashing education in Liberia, and we continue to emphasize to the children and caretakers the importance of preventing sickness, not just treating it. Through regular workshops and in-home instruction, children have learned that the single most important thing that they can do to stay healthy is to wash their hands.

To demonstrate to the children where germs like to hide and how to properly wash your hands, the children cover their hands with bright green germs (paint), like Evelyn demonstrates above. They get to practice washing with soap and water and see how much of the "germs" they can wash off. Orphan Relief and Rescue's handwashing program is fun for the children and beneficial to their long-term health. To see programs like this continue, go to http://www.orphanreliefandrescue.org/ and donate using our new, simplified PayPal system.

Happy Handwashing!