As we celebrate the importance of fresh and safe water in our daily lives, the Joint Programme on PROWATER organizes an activity that aims to popularize the integrated safe water, sanitation and hygiene approach– the development of iWaSH community murals in Regions IX and V.

“Because some of our beneficiary communities are on remote areas, data and cellular communication networks are absent. They are not reached by the campaign awareness and communication efforts that we are implementing in the national and regional levels. Hence, we believe that community murals are the best communication vehicles that will allow us to fulfill our communications strategies,” according to Ken Aliliran, National UN Volunteer Communications Associate.

Through the murals, we aim to promote access to resilient and affordable hardware on water, sanitation and hygiene, to disseminate information on water quality planning and monitoring, sustainable sanitation and to encourage practice on proper hygiene.

The three-day event has been commenced by a workshop with school boys and girls and mothers, facilitated by the local artist who is knowledgeable on iWaSH concepts and approaches. They brainstorm and conceptualize on what will be the design of their iWaSH community mural.

The mural painting is done on the second day and the unveiling/launching is organized on the third day. This has been participated by barangay officials, boys, girls, mothers and fathers, and the community.

The joint programme endeavors to highlight the participation of women and girls on this activity because we wanted to increase their visibility, cooperation and involvement in planning, decision-making and implementation of water and sanitation projects.

“Kung makikita ng bawat bata o tao ang nakapinta sa pader, makikita nila kung paano ang kalinisan, kung paano gagawin at kung saan nanggagaling ang tubig (If every kid or person would see what is painted on the wall, they could be acquainted on what is proper hygiene, what needs to be done or where the water is coming from),” Cherrymie Tupas, mother of one of the kids in Bgy Talib, Aroroy, Masbate.

“May natutunan kami at nadagdagan ang kaalaman namin tulad kung paano ginagamit ang tubig na malinis, kung paano pahalagahan ang tubig. Natutunan namin kung gaano kahalaga ang tubig (We learned a lot especially on where we can use clean water; we also learned the importance of water),” said April Joy Betita, Grade X in Sawang High School.

Simultaneous with this event is the same activity in Bgy. Muñoz, Siayan, Zamboanga Del Norte.

Two community murals will also be done in Capalonga and Basud, Camarines Norte as part of the World Water Day Celebration on March 20-22 and March 22-24, respectively.

Moreover, to reach all our beneficiary communities, we are developing more iWaSH community murals this second quarter of 2017 in the following areas:
Region V – Cawayan, Monreal, and Milagros, Masbate
Region VIII – Bobon and Mapanas, Northern Samar
Region IX – Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte