2018 Year in Review: A Year Full of Impact and New Achievements
Wow! It’s already 2019? We hope you all had a great year– we did! The WASH Foundation’s focus is to sustainably deliver WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) education and supplies to the world’s most vulnerable populations. We have served millions of people in places like India, Haiti and Mexico through our International Wash in Schools Program and even here in our backyard, the United States, through our domestic Soap in Schools Program. In 2018, we reached new heights and we are ecstatic to be able to share just a few of our many achievements from the past year!
“10,000 Showers with Fresh Start"
In 2017, Clean the World teamed up with Las Vegas Sands to launch “Sands Cares Fresh Start Mobile Showers” a Mobile Hygiene Unit (MHU) with 4 fully equipped bathrooms that include showers, toilets and sinks. Sands Cares Fresh Start Mobile Showers can provide up to an estimated 250 showers a week. The MHU was created with the goal to provide the necessary resources to help those in need, to assist them in rough times and help them get back on their feet. We are excited the announce that this past November, we provided our 10,000th shower! Michael Guillory, a 58-year-old man, came across the MHU in September and has continued to visit the unit. Michael has been able to shower regularly since the launch of the mobile hygiene unit and, thanks to the additional services provided by partners alongside the MHU each day, secured job skills training and ultimately a new job. Coincidentally, on November 27, 2018, Michael was our 10,000th shower client! Hearing testimony’s like Michael’s is the reason why we work passionately around the clock to provide hygiene resources like soap and showers to those who think they are a luxury. Because, they shouldn’t be.
“It feels great. I want to thank Kevin and Jameel for coming out here and always making us feel welcome.” – Michael Guillory
Joining the WASH Cluster!
In April of 2018, we were selected as the 23rd member of the UN Global WASH Cluster! This officially gives Clean the World a vote in decision-making and resource allocation for UN WASH operations, guidelines, and partnerships globally, allowing our programming efforts to reach further with greater impact.
Program Updates
In addition to joining the UN Global Wash Cluster, we were able to extend our WASH education programs into India. In April, The WASH Foundation’s Executive Director, Sam Stephens, traveled to multiple cities in India, observing the impact of the program on some of the world’s most vulnerable families.
The WASH Education Program emphasizes the importance of daily handwashing throughout the school year, along with proper water and sanitation utilization, while ensuring they have access to the supplies and resources they need. We educate the youth on how proper handwashing and WASH practices can prevent the spread of pneumonia and reduce the risk of diarrheal disease. The main goal is to change behaviors and instill proper handwashing and WASH practices as lifelong routines. To learn more about our programs and why we WASH, visit The WASH Foundation.
In September, The WASH Foundation’s Director of Programs, Steffani Fields along with two Concord Hospitality Managers traveled to Guadalajara, Mexico to participate in a Global Service Trip. The team visited multiple Children International Community Centers and participated in hygiene education classes that helped teach the children and families about the importance of hygiene. Team members also taught the children how to bathe properly. Because, bodily bathing is just as necessary in the fight against harmful germs that can spread disease.
“One of my favorite memories about our Global Service trip to Children International’s Jalisco center, near Guadalajara was teaching local boys and girls how to properly bathe. Teaching children hand hygiene is important, but an understanding that hygiene extends over the whole body and even into household cleaning practices is essential!” -Steffani Fields The WASH Foundation’s Director of Programs
EMERGENCY RELIEF
The 2018 Hurricane Season was disastrous. The first major storm to hit U.S. soil was an extremely slow-moving Hurricane Florence. She crept over the Carolinas dumping torrential rainfall for an entire week. Clean the World snapped into full relief mode, working around the clock to assemble and distribute 50,000 Clean the World Hygiene Kits to those affect by Florence.
Unfortunately, right at Hurricane Florence’s flanks was Hurricane Michael. Hurricane Michael hit Florida’s golf coast with winds topping speeds of 155 mph as a Category 5 Hurricane. The most affected area was Florida’s panhandle. Clean the World was still in full hurricane relief mode by time Michael made landfall and even held volunteer after hours to add fuel to the relief efforts.
Clean the World, with the help of hundreds of volunteers, was able to assemble and distribute over 100,000 hygiene kits to the businesses and families in Florida’s Panhandle affected by Hurricane Michael. Hurricane relief mode by time Michael made landfall and even held volunteer after hours to add fuel to the relief efforts. Clean the World, with the help of hundreds of volunteers, was able to assemble and distribute over 100,000 hygiene kits to the businesses and families in Florida’s Panhandle affected by Hurricane Michael.
“This little town was heavily impacted by Hurricane Michael. It was completely cut off for days with no food, water (the town water system was not operating), or electricity. There were so many trees across all of the roadways that the town was completely isolated for days. The people were very grateful to receive these supplies”. – Roy the Gleaning for The World Director of Disaster Relief
To Sum It Up
To summarize some of our milestones and achievements from 2018, let’s take a look back. We served our 10,000th shower with our Mobile Hygiene Unit (MHU). We had the honor of joining the UN Global WASH Cluster becoming a part of Sustainable Development Goal 6, which focuses on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. We served thousands of families in our WASH education programs and partnerships in places like India and Kenya. We hosted Global Service Trips in Guadalajara and Zambia. Lastly, we were able to assemble and distribute over 150,000 hygiene kits to those affected by Hurricanes Florence and Michael. And that’s just to name a few of our many achievements! We would like to acknowledge and give a huge thanks to all of our volunteers and financial donors because, without you, none of this would have been possible. To join us on our new adventures in 2019, follow us on social media!
Help us get viral by sharing this page.
