Hygiene is the vital link that promotes health in a community where clean water and
proper sanitation have been established. Many of us take for granted information about
bacteria, hygiene, and disease. However, in many areas of the world, this information is
not available. Unsafe practices at water sources, in places where people walk and do
business, and in homes or gathering places can put entire communities at risk of serious
or even fatal illnesses. In some communities people practice open defecation, which spreads harmful bacteria both on surfaces and in the ground. Unhygienic handling of water during transport or within the home can contaminate previously safe water. Hands are vehicles for transmitting pathogens to food, water, and mouths.¹⁷ A study showed that the simple act of washing one’s hands with soap can decrease the risk of diarrheal disease in a community by 47 percent.¹⁸

When it comes to hygiene, each community member plays a crucial role in promoting good health and maintaining a clean environment. Everyone must wash their hands, safely dispose of fecal waste, and safely handle food. Lifewater International's training programs teach community members about the responsibility they bear and the concern they must engender for one another in order to stop the transmission of diseases. Lifewater's trainings seek to inspire real and lasting improvements to the community's current hygiene practices by promoting positive perspectives on community hygiene. This approach achieves sustainable solutions. Please see our video case study, WASH and Soccer! on the creative solution Lifewater and an in-country partner organization employed to share hygiene principles with an entire region in northern Uganda.