Better Life for Girls: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

Long after an initial crisis or disaster impacts a community, Good Neighbours stays on to help rebuild homes, livelihoods and initiate major reconstruction projects. Good Neighbours also implements disaster risk reduction programs, ensuring communities have the resources and infrastructure so they are better equipped and more resilient.

One key school in the Philippines in the Municipality of Guiuan, in Eastern Samar, has been prioritised for such development, rehabilitation and resilience programs. As recently as 2024 GN Philippines has constructed a water reservoir, elevated water tank and communal sanitary toilet at the school. But, individual classroom toilets along with Menstrual Health Management (MHM) training are much-needed as the girls still face stigma, shame and stress around managing their periods at school. They also risk increased exposure to illness, without ready access to more functioning toilets.

In response, Good Neighbours Australia will help fund the construction of 6 classroom toilets, as well as provide much-needed training to 16 teachers and 156 adolescent girls and their mothers, and develop an advocacy campaign about MHM in the school. The program will also equip the community to make reusable sanitary pads to support the girls.