Smiles and Clean Hands

With our first learning tour in December, I had the opportunity to do two capacitations (trainings) on hand washing and teeth brushing with the kids in Bramadero. I prepared everything for the two different capacitations and the students from the group from Cal Poly, were able to lead the capacitations. We did activities like reading a story about both topics, had several crafts relating to the topics and then hands on learning exercises (washing their hands and teeth brushing on a mouth model). It worked out good for me to be able to go around and observe instead of leading the workshop since it was my first time doing these capacitations, so I could see what worked well or needed improvement. One of the students was able to get some toothbrushes donated to hand out, so each child that participated was given one. Also, we were able to give out small toothpastes to each child from Seth's parents church in South Dakota.

The kids really enjoyed the entire workshop, but I thought it was mainly because it was something fun to do. A couple weeks after we did the capacitation we were back in Bramadero and several of the girls were at our house and they said "Sara, can I wash my hands?", I said, "yes, of course." They begin washing their hands and telling me how to wash tier hands "you need to scrub your fingers, wrists, and the front and back of your hands for 20 seconds". During that same visit in Bramadero, I was with another child who had food in his teeth and I told him he needed to brush his teeth and I had the opportunity to review how, why and when we need to brush our teeth. Later that same day I saw that child and he made sure to show me he had brushed his teeth. It is always rewarding to see people beginning to change for the better, but for me it is the most rewarding to see a child take hold of something and make changes.

I will be doing my first capacitation with adults in February in a community where we recently installed a potable water system using solar panels. They will be over hygiene, germs and how they affect our health and nutrition (what we need to eat to be healthy). I am looking forward to sharing some of my knowledge in order to help them improve their health. I am greatful God is using me in this way.