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On January 12, 2012, Public Health Brigades and Water Brigades worked with the community of El Cantón to realize the first ever Health and Hygiene Fair. Working together were 118 student volunteers, over 200 community members, including 120 children, and Global Brigades staff. The fair took place at the large open soccer field of El Cantón and even the local mayor’s office supported the event by contributing the generator and sound equipment that helped the fair run smoothly.
Public Health and Water Brigades from Saint Louis University, Colombia University, Boston University, Washington University in Saint Louis, UC Berkeley, and University of Virginia participated in the fair by each setting up a booth to present an educational lesson. Each station included an interactive session and donation item regarding one of the following eight topics: Oral Hygiene, Household Water Storage and Hydration, Nutrition, Hand and Nail Hygiene, Personal Hygiene, Basic First Aid, Household Sanitation, and Waste Disposal. The children of the community split into eight small groups and rotated among each station, participating in the short, 12-minute workshops about each topic.
In addition to teaching the children of the community about basic health and hygiene, it was also an opportunity for our university volunteers to learn more about traditional Honduran culture through skits, dances and local cuisine. Following the educational portion of the fair, the teachers and school children delivered a prepared presentation that included traditional dance and folkloric songs. The children also performed a few skits based on lessons they had learned from the educational components of previous Public Health and Water Brigades, such as watershed protection and personal hygiene. The Basic Sanitation Committee was also present during the fair, providing support at each university’s station. The Committee also prepared a song about germs and prevention of illness.
While the event was taking place, local community members set up booths in a designated area, selling samples of local foods and drinks. Student volunteers were able to try the delicious Honduran treats ranging from bean and corn tamales to pineapple pastries to locally grown coffee!
Kicking off at 12:30 pm and ending at around 4:00pm, the Health and Hygiene Fair was a huge success! Global Brigades received excellent feedback from brigade volunteers and members of the El Canton community alike. It was the first fair that El Canton had ever hosted within its own community, and they were so pleased with the outcome that they would like to continue having similar events on an annual basis! Global Brigades also looks forward to working with our student volunteers and communities to host more educational fairs in the future.
