The NGO Network (RONG) and the municipality of Nouadhibou have formed a partnership with HAMAP-Humanitaire to build and refurbish sanitation blocks in 8 state schools.

The aim of the project is to improve sanitation and access to education for the town's children, and in particular for young girls.
In all, around 5,500 children will benefit from the project, along with 120 teaching staff!

Alongside the works, a whole strand of awareness raising and training will be developed, which is what will make the project last.

Awareness sessions will be held in each of the schools covered by the project. Community workers from associations that are members of RONG will run the sessions.

The themes covered in these sessions will be good hygiene practice (washing hands several times a day, particularly before and after going to the toilet), cleanliness (leaving a place clean, personal hygiene), health (understanding the behaviours that lead to diarrhoeal or stomach illnesses and how to avoid them), and awareness of maintaining and respecting the latrines. To get the messages across to children and teaching staff, playful materials will be designed and produced with the children. The CLTS method (Community-Led Total Sanitation) will be used; it is widespread in Mauritania and makes beneficiaries the actors. The children will hold a debate and discussions on these subjects after receiving theoretical input from the community workers. Finally, the children will produce a mural illustrating the message they themselves want to pass on to the town's residents after taking part in the sessions.

School health committees will also be set up, made up of pupils, a teacher and a parent in each of the schools covered by the project. These committees will be responsible for applying good hygiene and maintenance practice in their own schools.

Finally, a management committee made up of parents and supervised by the head teachers will be formed. Its role is to look after the sanitation blocks: cleaning, restocking supplies and small repairs.

This project will significantly improve the health of pupils and teaching staff and the learning environment.

It is made possible by the financial support of funders