Playbook/Kano: Building lasting hygiene habits in schools and orphanages
Steward: Damilola
Secondary issue bucket: EDU - Education
Summary: Kano’s Circle set out to build lasting hygiene habits among children in schools and orphanages, where poor hygiene knowledge and limited water, sanitation and handwashing facilities lead to preventable illness and missed school days. After launching at Green Pastures orphanage with the DJFL Foundation, it ran its first school session, reaching 100+ students and teachers. It has also secured approvals and a sanitiser supplier offering about 60% below retail, so schools can keep restocking after the donations end. The programme is designed to last beyond each visit, with Good Hygiene Clubs, handwashing stations and a bilingual English/Hausa comic book. It is now being rolled out to four schools with over 4,000 students.
The issue
Many children in Kano’s schools and orphanages lack basic hygiene knowledge and adequate water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities, such as handwashing stations and clean toilets. This leads to preventable illnesses that keep children out of school. The risk is highest at the start of the rainy season in July and August, when waterborne diseases peak, a pattern supported by UNICEF’s WASH findings.
Why was it winnable
Of the four issues the Circle considered, school hygiene was the most concrete, with a clear audience and practical solutions. Circle members already had direct connections to schools and to a local sanitiser manufacturer, so partnerships could be formed quickly. The manufacturer agreed to supply schools at about 60% below retail, meaning schools can keep restocking hygiene products after the Circle’s donations end.
Who was affected
Children at Green Pastures and in Kano schools, plus teachers and families.
The goal
Improve hygiene knowledge and habits among school children and build systems that outlast each visit through Good Hygiene Clubs, WASH stations and a bilingual educational comic book. The target was 4–6 schools and 500+ students.
What they did
- Chose the most achievable issue. Out of the four issues considered, the Circle picked school hygiene because it was the most concrete, and partnerships were easily formed through the Circle members.
- Planned for continuity. The Circle designed its approach around systems that last beyond each visit: Good Hygiene Clubs in schools, wash basins and a bilingual English/Hausa comic book. The initial target was 4–6 schools and 500+ students.
- Secured a supplier partnership. A local sanitiser manufacturer agreed to supply schools at about 60% below retail, so schools can keep restocking after donations end.
- Funded the launch themselves. Circle members personally covered the cost of the first visit.
- Launched at Green Pastures. With the DJFL Foundation coordinating, the Circle ran an interactive session covering 12-step handwashing, toilet hygiene and disease prevention. It distributed food, about 48 sanitisers, buckets for improvised handwashing stations, clothing and the comic book.
- Revised the school plan. Paperwork, very large school sizes and term dates led the Circle to cut its plan from six schools to four so each could be done properly.
- Scheduled the school rollout. Visits are planned for Government Secondary School Dabo (\~2,300 students) and Fahard Group of Schools (\~1,200) in October, and Spring International School (\~600) in November. A mental health and hygiene seminar with the NADA Foundation will reach about 10 schools.
- Completed approvals and began procurement. School paperwork is done and the Circle has started buying materials.
- Set up tracking. After a forum suggestion, the steward agreed to give each Hygiene Club a register to record children reached, books distributed and clubs formed per school.
Who they worked with
DJFL Foundation, a local sanitiser manufacturer, NADA Foundation, the four school authorities, and Circle members who funded the visit personally.
What worked
When the stipend didn’t cover all the launch costs, Circle members paid the difference themselves, which was faster than running a fundraising campaign. The Circle also built continuity in from the start: student Hygiene Clubs keep good habits going between visits, and discounted sanitiser refills let schools restock on their own. Finally, cutting the plan from six schools to four gave the Circle time to do each one properly rather than rushing to hit the original target.
What didn't work
The hygiene sessions, comic books and supplies were prepared, but planned around assumptions rather than a proper needs assessment. At Government Junior Secondary School Dabo they found shortages of learning materials and classroom furniture, and heard accounts of food insecurity, needs far beyond the hygiene education we came to deliver. We also hadn’t agreed on photography and safeguarding rules with the school in advance. And while we reached 100+ students and teachers, we have no way yet to tell whether the lessons are being practised. The first-aid box is still a follow-up goal. Next time we’ll speak with teachers and community leaders beforehand, settle permissions early, and plan follow-up visits to measure what actually changes.
The outcome
Children at Green Pastures orphanage learned practical hygiene habits, including 12-step handwashing, toilet hygiene and disease prevention. They now have the basics to practise these habits daily: sanitisers, improvised handwashing stations and a bilingual comic book to reinforce what they learned. Beyond the launch, the Circle has secured approvals and a discounted supply chain to bring the programme to four schools with over 4,000 students, plus a seminar reaching about 10 more schools. School results and Hygiene Club numbers will be tracked through club registers.
What was learned
School approvals and preparation take longer than expected, so it’s worth running a quicker winnable issue in parallel while coordinating school and orphanage visits. This keeps the Circle delivering results while longer-term work is still being set up. Reducing the plan from six schools to four was necessary to do each one properly, and it showed that focusing on fewer sites is better than spreading the Circle too thin.
What could another Circle replicate
Partner with a local supplier to get discounted hygiene products, such as handwash or sanitiser, so schools can keep restocking after your donations end. Use a bilingual comic book or other engaging material in the local language to help children remember what they’ve learned. Set up student-led Hygiene Clubs with registers so good habits continue between visits and you can track your reach. Start the school approval process early, and focus on fewer schools so each one gets the time it needs.
Resources
Kano Circle 3.0 media: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1xab6U0mMIsUvizBNGLQbPOeQH8gKYL4g
Kano 4.0 media: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lC3iE7LHnUS4HHw8A902WApuHhO9eZUW
HealthyChild, HealthyFuture plan: https://docs.google.com/document/d/18Oefx7E3BnawNoxoeKHzBUrgxOLQRrepaTHarMXOjao/edit?usp=drivesdk
The Comic Book: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EJO2qJwxqmKkVNmfa9yUda01i5ksG0ts/view