Before going to Kenya this time, I had a goal to incorporate some type of hand-washing hygiene for the children at St. Catherine's. My thinking was to use it as a pilot program at the school and then possibly in the next few missions make it more widely used. Worms of all kinds cause so much illness in Africa, and seem to affect the children most often. Robbing them of life, learning and happiness. Even though AILC has a program in the medical aspect of the mission to treat everyone with vitamins and de-wormer, the de-wormer only last for 4-6 months. Then sadly children are re-infected at an alarming rate. Soooooo one of the purposes for me going back to Africa was to introduce classes to teach the children WHY, WHEN, WHERE and HOW to wash. I had made flip charts as visual aides, along with stickers, soap, and an original lyrics for song. WASH, WASH, WASH YOUR HANDS, MAKE THEM REALLY CLEAN...
All I lacked was the wash stations themselves. With the help of my husband, Buck who drew up some plans for me and the generous financial donations of family and friends I was off and running. I took the plans and my idea to a local welder in Naivasha, East Africa, paid him two hundred US dollars and he delivered five of the best looking wash stations I have ever seen. When they were delivered to the school I was busy with some of the village ladies. Deb one of team members came to me and said, Lauri, we need you in medical building asap. Thinking there was a medical emergency off I ran, there they sat the final product of my brain storm. There I stood with everyone clapping and me crying. I was reminded of a card my sister Jeannie had given me with money to help with my hand hygiene mission the card said, we are so proud of all you are doing in Africa.....I had accomplished my goal of five hand washing stations, appropriately name the WALL WASHING STATIONS!
To all those who helped me, I am so proud of you all for your part in me seeing this goal through and supporting me in a new passion Thank You...
