Engaging Empowering Youth: School Clubs Drive Environmental and WASH Innovations in Kamwenge and Kitagwenda

Funded by Join for Water, the Joint Effort to Save the Environment (JESE) initiative has successfully empowered primary school students across the Kamwenge and Kitagwenda districts to become active champions of environmental protection and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) practices.

By establishing student-led WASH and Environmental Clubs—supported by patrons and Senior Women Teachers—schools including Bunoga, Busabura, Nyakacwamba, and Nyakeera have placed pupils at the forefront of local sustainability efforts.

Hands-on training sessions focused on practical skills, such as producing liquid soap and making Reusable Sanitary Pads (RUMPs). These skills have yielded immediate improvements in campus hygiene, waste management, and personal health. Nyakacwamba P/S WASH Club Patron, Mr. Abigaba Emma, noted,

“Our pupils now truly understand why and how we must protect our environment.” Hands-on waste separation techniques have transformed school grounds and fostered community advocacy, with Primary Six member Blessings Natukunda sharing, “I am now an ambassador in my community… we no longer mix disposable and non-disposable waste.”

In addition to enhancing sanitation and latrine maintenance, the RUMP and soap-making initiatives offer critical cost savings for families and reduce school absenteeism among young girls. Student Patience Karungi highlighted the profound personal impact: “Now that we make our own pads, I can fully focus on my education.” Through peer-to-peer training, these young advocates continue to extend vital hygiene and environmental practices from their classrooms directly into their broader communities.