Clean the World Foundation Celebrates the Launch of WASH Program With Community Event

Global Nonprofit Launches Their Latest Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Education Program in the Dominican Republic with Beach Cleanup and Volleyball Component

​​​​​​On Oct. 19 and 20, 2019, Clean the World Foundation, a global leader in WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) and sustainability, launched their latest WASH Education program in the Dominican Republic. To raise awareness and promote local community involvement, they hosted a three-day event in Punta Cana called CleanFest. The event consisted of a volleyball tournament and beach cleanup including local community leaders, teams from nine local hotels: The Hard Rock, Melia, Breathless, Karisma, Royalton, Palladium, Now-Secrets Royal Beach, Punta Cana Group, and Dreams Palm Beach, and students from several local schools.

Just one of many programs the global health organization has implemented, the WASH Education Program in the Dominican Republic will be the first to incorporate a sports component. Serving 1,947 students in Bavaro, Punta Cana, the program will teach volleyball alongside weekly lessons on water, sanitation and hygiene.

"It's been an exciting year in the Dominican Republic," remarks Sam Stephens, Executive Director of Clean the World Foundation. "Along with the opening of our recycling center in Punta Cana, the WASH Education Program will greatly benefit the local Bavaro community. Our goal is to combine volleyball with WASH Education, thereby demonstrating the importance of handwashing after play and creating a fun learning environment to support life-long behavior change."

After the hotels went head to head playing volleyball, employees returned the following day for a cleanup of Macao Beach. Together, employees from the hotels along with over 140 volunteers from the Punta Cana community, collected almost 2,000 pounds of debris and trash over the course of the day. Students from the schools that are participating in Clean the World's WASH Education program were able to join in the fun during the beach cleanup. The event provided an opportunity for the children to visit Macao Beach, some for the first time, and to assist proudly in an act of service that will hopefully serve to encourage the students to be part of a global health movement.

"The event was the perfect start to the program and a huge success," says Sam Stephens. "Connecting those who give us soap to those who receive our soap is nothing short of inspirational. With the great turnout and impact of the event, we are sure the WASH Education program will be just as successful."

A recap of the event can be viewed here.

The community and local hotels will continue to play a large role in the program. Other hotels are invited to participate in the WASH program by recycling soap and hygiene amenities with Clean the World. As teachers begin implementing the WASH curriculum in the schools, students will receive hygiene products on a weekly basis, thanks to the hospitality industry in Punta Cana.

For more information on Clean the World Foundation's WASH Education Program, please visit: http://cleantheworldfoundation.org/

About Clean the World Foundation

Clean the World Foundation is an international development and global health nonprofit operating hygiene-focused emergency relief initiatives, and WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) education programs, targeting vulnerable communities in the United States and around the world. Clean the World Foundation is the 501(c)(3) non-profit sector of Clean the World's social enterprise responsible for all soap and hygiene kit distribution both domestically and globally as part of many of its comprehensive WASH programs. Clean the World Foundation engages volunteers, donors, and other outcome-focused organizations around the world to provide hygiene supplies and education curriculum to support its global health programs. Since 2009, Clean the World Foundation has served over 10 million individuals through its global WASH programs. A copy of the official registration and financial information for Clean the World Foundation may be obtained from the division of consumer services by visiting www.800helpfla.com. More information: www.cleantheworldfoundation.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Sandie Beauchamp​
Clean the World Foundation
info@cleantheworld.org
407-574-8353

Source: Clean the World Foundation

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