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COSTA RICA: School recognized for hygiene promotion

Don Bosco Center for the Development of Skills wins award for hygiene promotion

(MissionNewswire) The Don Bosco Center for the Development of Skills, known as CEDES Don Bosco in Costa Rica, has been awarded the Blue Award in the hygiene promotion category by the Ecological Blue Flag and Quality Healthcare Seal. The center has been promoting a culture of cleanliness and hygiene through education and safe access to drinking water and sanitation services to help stop the spread of disease and prevent COVID-19 infections.

The Ecological Blue Flag program is an annual award that takes into account efforts to improve hygiene and environmental conditions. The Don Bosco Center obtained an evaluation of 100 points in the mandatory parameters, which include the correct management of drinking water, correct treatment and disposal of wastewater, application of the hygiene protocol, disinfection of installations and plants, hand-washing, and solid waste management.

“The Don Bosco Center has done significant work in ensuring that students and staff are learning and working in a safe and clean environment,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco. “This work is important all the time but has been particularly importing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Salesians around the globe have made access to clean water and proper hygiene a priority in Salesian schools and centers.”

According to the World Bank, more than 1.14 million Costa Ricans live in poverty, which is more than 21 percent of the population. In addition, poor Costa Ricans are more likely to live in a single-mother household and have a higher than average number of children under age 5, as well as other dependents living in the same home. Dependents include children under age 14 or adults over age 65. More than 77 percent of poor Costa Ricans work in the informal sector and have roughly three years less schooling than their peers who are not living in conditions of poverty.

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Costa Rica – CEDES Don Bosco receives the Blue Prize for Promotion of Hygiene

Salesian Missions

World Bank – Costa Rica