Celebrate Global Handwashing Day to promote handwashing with soap throughout the world.

Global Handwashing Day is a way to support a global and local culture of handwashing with soap, shine a spotlight on the state of handwashing in each country, and raise awareness about the benefits of handwashing with soap. Since 2008, Global Handwashing Day has been celebrated annually on October 15 worldwide.

Handwashing Saves Lives

Although people around the world clean their hands with water, very few use soap to wash their hands because soap and water for handwashing might be less accessible in developing countries. Even when soap is available, it might be reserved primarily for laundry and bathing instead of for handwashing. Washing hands with soap removes germs much more effectively.

• Millions of children under the age of 5 years die from diarrheal diseases and pneumonia, the top two killers of young children around the world.
• Handwashing is not only simple and inexpensive, but remarkably, handwashing with soap can dramatically cut the number of young children who get sick.
• Handwashing with soap could prevent about 1 out of every 3 episodes of diarrheal illnesses and almost 1 out of 6 episodes of respiratory infection like pneumonia.

Make sure you, your family, and your students know when and how to wash your hands properly. See the Centers for Disease Control website for teaching materials and links to videos. www.cdc.gov/features/globalhandwashing

Clean the World—Global Soap Project

You can help save lives by participating in this simple, important project. Here’s how it works:

• When you pack to come to #KDPconvo15, add a bar of soap to your luggage. Just one bar helps!
• Add your soap to the KDP collection bin in the Convo registration area of the Rosen Plaza Hotel.
• On Saturday, October 24, our collection will be taken to Clean the World’s facility in Orlando for processing.

It’s that simple to help save children from lethal diseases. As described on the Global Soap Project website:

The Global Soap Project works with partners around the world to provide access to soap in a sustainable manner to enhance long-term and comprehensive local water, sanitation and hygiene programs. The recipients we target include maternal health programs, schools, community health providers, and nutrition programs.

For further information, visit https://cleantheworld.org/the-global-soap-project

Kristen Jackson is Director of Advancement.