Bu - Promoting personal hygiene in underserved communities, globally

Collaboration is a cornerstone of social innovation and a powerful tool for driving positive change and achieving collective goals. As such, The WASH Foundation is delighted to partner with Design for Good to improve the quality of life of women, children, and communities worldwide by providing them with enhanced access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).

Meet ‘Bu’ – A collaboration of global designers from different and diverse Fortune 500 companies, brought together by Design for Good, to deliver solutions for the United Nations’ Clean Water and Sanitation Initiative.

Partnering to deliver impact

Bu has created a physical and digital platform promoting handwashing and launching a hygiene education flipbook. The flipbook will teach children and global underserved communities the importance and practice of basic hygiene early, to establish good habits to stay healthy. The language-free visual flipbook has an engaging design and intuitive frame-by-frame animated sequences, breaking down all language and education barriers. Future expansion allows for personalization, easy storage systems, tools for additional hygiene habits, and digital solutions.

Bu puts resources in the hands of critical influencers of child habits and education (teachers, parents, caregivers) in developing regions. This will allow them to teach and reinforce habits at critical stages of development in a way that is solution-oriented and fun for all ages. In partnership with The WASH Foundation, the product will be scalable to educate beyond the classroom or home —distributing through WASH in Schools, WASH in Healthcare Facilities, Fresh Start WASH and Wellness

The WASH Foundation and Bu are excited about this partnership and the shared goal in improving the lives and health of people around the globe.

the challenge

2.3 billion people lack basic hygiene. Women and children and those in emerging economies are the hardest hit. 70 million children have limited or no access to basic sanitation.

How might we create a tool for guiding children with healthy hygiene, and instilling education for future hygienic habits?

the solution

This team has created a sustainable product platform ‘promoting safe and hygienic handwashing’ that teaches and promotes good personal hygiene for kids in underserved communities and schools.

Children need to be educated on the importance and practice of basic hygiene early, to establish good habits to stay healthy and strong. ‘Bu’ embraces circular design thinking; an animated physical flipbook, breaking down language barriers; accessible online digital animation across all devices & screens; and a partnership with The Wash Foundation, supporting basic sanitation programs globally.

We will add this new flipbook and the animations in our WASH training and education programs from WASH in Schools and WASH in Healthcare Facilities programs. They will also be a great resource for those that visit our Mobile Hygiene Units and receive our relief kits.

physical ecomap changes

The physical product has enticing design and intuitive frame-by-frame animated sequences, breaking down all language and education barriers. Future expansion allows for personalisation, and easy storage systems.

Bu puts resources in the hands of critical influencers of child habits and education (teachers, parents, caregivers) in developing regions. This will allow them to teach and reinforce habits at critical stages of development in a way that is solution-oriented and fun at all ages. The product aims to be scalable to educate beyond the classroom or home (e.g., can be stationed in developing housing, nurseries, public toilets/wash areas, other public areas).

This team has created a sustainable product platform ‘promoting safe and hygienic handwashing’ that teaches and promotes good personal hygiene for kids in underserved communities and schools.

We will add this new flipbook and the animations in our WASH training and education programs from WASH in Schools and WASH in Healthcare Facilities programs. They will also be a great resource for those that visit our Mobile Hygiene Units and receive our relief kits.

Through our discussions with The WASH Foundation, the handwashing animation has been made accessible to a number of cultures, by utilising a liquid soap and removing any reference to a sink or faucet being needed.

We are now ensuring that the animations are compatible on recycled or refurbished phones and browsers. Our next objective is to select a hosting provider that operates on renewable energy sources and actively invests in environmental initiatives.

This project working in partnership with The WASH Foundation.

The WASH Foundation partners with local governments and nongovernmental organizations to strengthen communities’ policies, systems, and infrastructure for future generations, with the ultimate goal of having their impact sustained locally, without dependence or ongoing aid.

Bu - Promoting personal hygiene in underserved communities, globally​

Partnering to deliver impact​

the challenge

the solution

physical ecomap changes

Bu - Promoting personal hygiene in underserved communities, globally

Partnering to deliver impact