Engaging young people and youths in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) initiatives can be achieved through creative and interactive methods that educate, inspire, and empower them to act. It’s possible to effectively engage young people in WASH initiatives, fostering a knowledgeable, motivated, and equipped generation to contribute to solving WASH challenges.
Develop games.
On water conservation, sanitation practices, and hygiene education. Games like “Water Journey” or “Sanitation Challenge” can teach important WASH concepts in a fun and engaging way.
Mobile Apps:
Create interactive challenges and rewards for saving water, practising proper handwashing techniques, and reporting sanitation issues.
Launch challenges.
On platforms like Instagram, encouraging users to demonstrate proper hygiene practices or water-saving tips using specific hashtags.
Influencer Partnerships:
Collaborate with social media influencers to promote WASH messages and practices through engaging and relatable content.
Organize workshops where young people can learn to create simple, cost-effective WASH solutions, such as tippy taps for handwashing or DIY water filters.
Hackathons:
Host hackathons focused on developing innovative WASH technologies or solutions, such as low-cost sanitation devices or water purification systems.
WASH Clubs:
Establish school clubs where students can participate in WASH-related projects, educational sessions, and community outreach.
Peer Education:
Train youth to be WASH ambassadors, who can educate their peers on best practices and lead WASH initiatives in their communities.
Creative Contests:
Encourage youths to express their understanding and ideas about WASH through art, music, photography, or video contests, with exhibitions or online showcases of their work.
Documentaries and Podcasts:
Support young people in creating documentaries or podcasts that explore WASH issues and solutions, highlighting personal stories and community efforts.
WASH Tech Labs:
Establish labs where young innovators can develop and test new WASH technologies, providing resources and mentorship.
Crowdsourcing Solutions:
Use online platforms to solicit young people’s ideas for tackling WASH challenges, with competitions and funding for the best solutions.
Local Clean-up Drives:
Organize regular clean-up events focusing on improving sanitation in regional areas, making them a social and educational activity.
Water Conservation Projects:
Involve youth in rainwater harvesting, community water audits, and building or maintaining local water infrastructure.
Youth Councils:
Form youth councils focused on WASH that can provide input on local policies, participate in decision-making, and advocate for improved WASH services.
Training Programs:
Offer training in advocacy skills, empowering young people to campaign for better WASH facilities and policies in their communities.
Virtual Reality (VR) Experiences:
Create VR experiences that simulate WASH challenges and solutions, providing an immersive way to learn about the importance of clean water and sanitation.
Webinars and Online Workshops:
Host interactive webinars and workshops with experts discussing WASH issues and innovative solutions.
Personal Narratives: Encourage young people to share their stories or experiences related to WASH through blogs, vlogs, or social media posts.
Role Models and Mentors: Highlight stories of young role models making a difference in WASH, inspiring others to take action.
