WOOLWORTHS HANDWASHING STATIONS

As the COVID-19 pandemic has developed over the past months, a lot of messaging has changed; however, the simple act of washing hands has steadfastly remained the central tenet of protecting ourselves and others. Schools are re-opening across the country under strict COVID-19 protocols, which of course include the need for frequent handwashing. However, a significant number of South African schools, particularly in the rural areas, do not have running water and/or handwashing stations.

Woolworths announced that it will be celebrating the upcoming National Water Week – 15 to 22 March – with a R2 million commitment to water security and sanitation in schools.

R1 million will go towards Woolworths’ partnership with the UNICEF WASH programme which installs handwashing units in schools and communities. A further R1 million will be committed by the Woolies Water Fund to the installation of comprehensive water security systems based on rainwater harvesting at schools in water-challenged provinces. 
Woolies and MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet Programme have invested nearly R3.4 million towards rolling out, not just water tanks at 50 schools across 4 provinces, but also handwashing stations in these schools. 


For many years, Woolworths and MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet Programme have been addressing water insecurity at schools through annual donations of rainwater harvesting tanks and infrastructure for schools that participate in the Woolworths Education Programme. The water tanks and grey water systems are typically used to improve sanitation and water supply, as well as provide water for food gardens that are essential to the schools' feeding schemes. Two years ago, Woolworths and the MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet fundraising programme established the WOOLIES WATER FUND, so that customers can also help raise funds for sustainable water solutions at schools by simply swiping their MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet Programme cards.
 
How can children stay safe when they don’t have access to clean water? We believe that it’s vital that teachers and learners coming back to school are able to wash their hands frequently in order for schools to be safe and healthy environments. The global crisis is putting the country under pressure to address long-standing issues around water insecurity at schools, and we felt it was important that we partner with the MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet Programme so that we could include handwashing stations in the donation. The additional funding also makes it possible to return to other schools and add handwashing installations to their existing water tank systems.

Water conservation has long been a critical part of the Woolworths Good Business Journey Programme, impacting right along the supply chain from water management on farms to store design. Through the Woolworths Education Programme they have shared their expertise with schools, and over the past six years, over 5 000 water lessons have been presented in 1782 primary schools, reaching over 1 531 teachers and 200 000 children. In partnership with MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet Programme, Woolies has also donated over 100 fully installed water tank systems to schools across the country.

COVID-19 has shown us that we need to come together. It's an opportunity to find sustainable solutions to important issues like water security. We hope that the MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet Programme supporters will be inspired to add the MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet WOOLIES WATER FUND as one of their three beneficiaries, and help ensure that the return to school is as safe as possible for our teachers and learners.

OUR UNICEF PARTNERSHIP

According to UNICEF, by 2040, one in four of the world’s children will be living in extremely water-stressed areas. In partnership with UNICEF, our aim for communities is to improve hand hygiene for all by enabling access to clean water through providing water and sanitation facilities that are cost-efficient, reduce water wastage and are sustainable,  especially in vulnerable schools.

As of December 2020, a total of 56 handwashing stations have been provided by Woolworths and the MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet Programme for schools and vulnerable communities in need, thereby enhancing the hygiene conditions and well-being of thousands and allowing for children in particular to have a safe, hygienic, fresh start in life.

As the COVID pandemic continues to surge in South Africa, the life-saving impact of handwashing with soap and clean water is more evident than ever before. 

With March being commemorated globally as Water Month, Woolworths enhanced its partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in a joint effort to highlight the critical impact of water access in under-resourced areas, and for vulnerable children in particular.

With an initial contribution by Woolworths, 10 handwashing stations were built in specifically identified schools where access to clean water was a challenge. The partnership was elevated in 2018 when UNICEF was signed onto the MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet Programme. The funds from this went on to build 10 more handwashing stations at schools where the need was great. An exciting initiative in 2019 was the production of the Woolworths–UNICEF shopping bags, through which a portion of the purchase cost went towards the building of an additional 8 handwashing stations in schools. 

As the COVID pandemic intensified over the course of 2020, Woolworths funding enabled UNICEF to build an additional 16 handwashing stations in schools over the course of the year. In addition, My School donated R350 000 which was then used to build 12 handwashing stations in schools and vulnerable communities, and support 270 families with hygiene kits including masks, hand sanitisers, soap and bleach. 

As of December 2020, a total of 56 handwashing stations have been provided for schools and communities in need.