Clicks encourages healthy hygiene habits on Global Handwashing Day

The Clicks Helping Hand Trust has partnered with Unilever and Lifebuoy to donate 1 340 hygiene hampers valued at R200 000 as well as a JoJo tank to Nal’uxolo Primary School in Samora Machel ahead of Global Handwashing Day 2022.

Annually, Global Handwashing Day is commemorated on 15 October and is a worldwide initiative focused on encouraging handwashing with soap as an easy and reliable way to tackle the spread of disease and save lives. The theme this year is ‘Unite for Universal Hand Hygiene’.

Making a lasting difference

“In its endeavours to encourage hand hygiene and build a healthier community, the Clicks Helping Hand Trust is proud to partner with Unilever and Lifebuoy soap,” says Clicks corporate affairs executive, Gwarega Mangozhe. “This is a no-fee paying school, servicing a large and previously disadvantaged community. We know that many families cannot afford hygiene products, so are pleased we can make a difference by supporting them.”

Nal’uxolo Primary School serves a community that faces high unemployment and crime rates. The majority of the learners receive children grants from SASSA and the school provides them with daily meals during school hours through the Peninsula School Feeding Scheme.

“We are very excited, humbled and thankful to Clicks and Unilever for this donation. These hygiene packs came at a time when our parents are struggling with unemployment and will provide some relief,” says Nal’uxolo Primary School headmaster, Mzikabawo Mpisane. “The JoJo tank will assist the school to curb our municipality bill. We will use the water to irrigate our food garden and it will ensure that our school’s toilets flush with underground water.”

The day’s activities included an opportunity for the learners to create a handprinted wall mural at the school and an informative handwashing demonstration for the learners.

A global celebration of good hand hygiene

Unilever, through its Lifebuoy brand, co-founded Global Handwashing Day in 2008 with the Global Handwashing Partnership. Since its inception, the initiative has continued to grow and is endorsed by governments, schools, international institutions, civil society organisations, NGOs, private companies, individuals, and more. Each year, it is celebrated by over 200 million people in more than 100 countries around the world.