GLOBAL HANDWASHING DAY: Salesian Missions highlights projects that ensure youth have access to clean water for proper hygiene
‘Clean Water Initiative’ prioritizes building wells and water systems
(MissionNewswire) Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, joins the international community in celebrating Global Handwashing Day 2026. The day, organized by the Global Handwashing Partnership, is celebrated each year on Oct. 15 and is dedicated to increasing awareness of the importance of hand-washing with soap.
According to the World Health Organization, millions of young lives could be saved with access to bar soap and hygiene education. Diarrheal disease is the leading cause of death among children under 5 years old and is responsible for killing more than 440,000 children every year. Hand-washing with soap is among the most effective and inexpensive ways to prevent this and other diseases.
Operating schools and programs for youth in more than 130 countries around the globe, Salesian missionaries are on the front lines providing what youth and their families need most. Salesians are able to ensure that clean water projects happen in communities that lack water access.
“We want to ensure that Salesian centers and schools have access to clean, safe water,” said Father Michael Conway, director of Salesian Missions. “Salesians understand how important clean water is for drinking, hand-washing, proper sanitation and more. This is why our ‘Clean Water Initiative’ has made building wells and water systems a priority in the communities we serve.”
To mark Global Handwashing Day, Salesian Missions is proud to highlight programs that ensure youth have access to clean water.
INDIA
Students at Don Bosco College Chapaguri in India have a new water supply thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions.
Salesian missionaries installed a functional borewell at Don Bosco College Chapaguri, located in Assam, India, to address the growing need for a reliable water source on campus. The project was funded by the Salesian Missions “Clean Water Initiative”.
As a result of the project, the college and the 100 hostel students now have a consistent, on-site water supply, significantly reducing dependence on external sources and improving overall campus hygiene and sustainability.
To ensure optimal groundwater availability, a survey was conducted to identify the most suitable location for drilling. A borewell was drilled to access a sustainable aquifer and then a high-capacity submersible pump was installed, along with durable piping and electrical connections to ensure efficient water extraction.
Jimi Basumatary, a resident of Chapaguri and a student at Don Bosco College, described life in the community as peaceful and community-oriented, but marked by limits to basic infrastructure. “Most of us depend on farming and small jobs nearby,” he said. “We live close to nature, but sometimes that means we have to deal with things like water shortages and poor connectivity.”
NIGERIA
More than 1,700 people in Nigeria were impacted by a water project at a technical college, which was funded by Salesian Missions.
St. Jude Science and Technical College in Nigeria has been able to upgrade its water system thanks to donor funding from Salesian Missions. The funding came from the Salesian Missions “Clean Water Initiative” and impacted 1,300 students, 70 staff and 350 youth from the community.
Salesians conducted a survey to understand the gaps in water supply, sanitation facilities and hygiene practices in order to determine the best course of action for the project. This was followed by the construction and rehabilitation of the boreholes, wells and water storage. Salesians then launched school-based WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) clubs and outreach campaigns. Students and staff were trained on the operation and maintenance of the facilities.
Through the project, hand-washing points were constructed at different places in the school compound. Existing toilets were renovated, and the project added more toilets in both the bathrooms for men and women and two for people with disabilities. Students and staff have easy access to the use of toilet facilities without any issue of overcrowding.
A Salesian noted, “The community played an active and enthusiastic role throughout the implementation of the WASH project. For many residents, both adults and children, the initiative introduced facilities and practices they had never encountered before. Their willingness to embrace the new systems and participate in training and maintenance activities reflects a promising foundation for long-term sustainability.”
TANZANIA
A water project funded by Salesian Missions ensures clean water access to 10,000 people in Don Bosco Igawa Parish in Tanzania.
Salesian missionaries with the Don Bosco Igawa Parish in Tanzania have fresh, clean water for their community thanks to donor funding from the Salesian Missions “Clean Water Initiative”. The project was implemented to respond to chronic water scarcity affecting Igawa village and surrounding rural communities in the Mbeya region.
With the new water access, more than 10,000 people have clean water, reducing time spent fetching water, particularly for women and children. Hygiene and school attendance improved, and waterborne illness decreased in the village.
People in the area rely on subsistence farming and small livestock. Before the intervention, residents depended on distant, seasonal and often unsafe water sources such as shallow wells and seasonal streams, exposing families to waterborne diseases and long daily travel times for water collection.
Mariana Mtawa, a resident, said, “Before the borehole was drilled, my children and I used to wake up very early to look for water. Sometimes we walked more than two hours, and even then, the water we found was not clean. During the dry season, it was very difficult, and my children would miss school because they were tired or sick. When drilling started, we were worried because we had heard the rocks were very hard, and the first machine failed. We prayed that the work would not stop. When water was finally reached, the whole village celebrated.”
ZAMBIA
Don Bosco Youth Center has new bathroom facility through the Salesian Missions “Clean Water Initiative”.
Salesian missionaries constructed a bathroom facility at the Don Bosco Youth Center, located in Kabwe, Zambia, thanks to donor funding from the Salesian Missions “Clean Water Initiative”. Through the construction, six flushable toilets and six showers were installed, as well as lighting in the building.
This project is impacting more than 200 boys and 400 girls from Dominic Savio Secondary School who use the center, and close to 200 youth, mostly girls, who use the oratory for sports. Christian groups also use the center for recollection and retreats.
The area around the center is urban with people earning a living by selling farm products along the streets and bus stations. There is a lack of clean water, few jobs for youth, poor or no sanitation, poor road networks and an unreliable health system. The education system is below standard due to over enrollment in schools. Don Bosco Youth Center is situated next to a large unorganized market where young people spend time.
Wilgis Matupa expressed happiness and gratitude to Salesian Missions. He said, “We appreciate the benefactors for being concerned with the health of the young people at the Salesian youth center. The toilets and showers are a life-saving measure and we are grateful.”
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Sources:
Photos courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)
NIGERIA: More than 1,700 people impacted by water project funded by Salesian Missions
