Across many elementary and junior high schools in Liberia, access to proper sanitation facilities remains a critical challenge. Without clean, functional restrooms, students are exposed to severe intestinal infections and waterborne illnesses like diarrhea and cholera, which can quickly become life-threatening for young children.
Driven by a passion to protect local youth, the Brewerville Civitan Club in Liberia launched a dedicated Hygiene Promotion Campaign in September 2026 to bring essential health education directly to students, families, and community members.
How the Project Began: Turning Heartbreak into Action
The inspiration for this vital initiative came from a poignant moment of personal experience and community awareness.
While visiting a local hospital to seek treatment for his child’s malaria, Civitan member Samuel Chenekeh witnessed the tragic loss of another six-year-old child. Moved by the tragedy, Chenekeh spoke with the attending physician to understand what had happened. The doctor explained that the child had passed away from severe diarrhea—a preventable illness that was currently causing high hospitalization rates among local youth.
Disturbed by the doctor’s warning, Chenekeh brought the issue to the next Brewerville Civitan Club meeting. Recognized as an urgent community need, club leadership immediately sought guidance from local medical expert Dr. Charles to determine how Civitan could make the biggest impact. Dr. Charles advised that a targeted hygiene practices and awareness campaign across local schools and neighborhoods would be the most effective way to stop the spread of preventable diseases.
Action Taken: Education in Schools and Market Squares
Following initial hygiene assessments in local homes, schools, and neighborhoods, the Brewerville Civitan Club began rolling out interactive educational sessions.
Led by Civitan Samuel Chenekeh and club volunteers, the campaign utilizes engaging posters, printed educational materials, and direct public outreach:
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School Outreach: Volunteers are visiting local schools—including Kpekor Elementary and Junior High School in the Brewerville School System—to teach students basic sanitation practices, handwashing routines, and disease prevention.
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Community Campaigns: Members are taking to busy market squares equipped with megaphones, broadcasting vital hygiene messages to parents, shopkeepers, and shoppers.
Project Objectives & Community Impact
The main goals of the Brewerville Civitan Club’s campaign include:
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10 Community Awareness Sessions: Delivering hygiene instruction across 10 local neighborhoods to reach an estimated 230 participants.
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Direct Student Engagement: Educating students across three initial schools to build healthy habits early.
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Disease Prevention: Stopping the transmission of cholera, diarrhea, and other intestinal infections in households and classrooms.
Through grassroots advocacy and swift community action, the members of the Brewerville Civitan Club are showing the true spirit of Civitan—turning compassion into action to save lives and build healthier communities.
PHOTO CAPTIONS:
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Hygiene Education Materials: Civitan Samuel Chenekeh displays an educational poster used during classroom awareness sessions.
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School Outreach: A student from Kpekor Elementary and Junior High School in the Brewerville School System participates in the hygiene campaign.
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Community Awareness: Brewerville Civitan Club members broadcast vital health and sanitation messages in the local market square using megaphones.
