Five students at Loreto Day School Sealdah noticed that one of the student toilets was unclean and poorly maintained. They decided to take action to improve hygiene in the toilets through a multi-step project. First, they observed the issues and raised awareness by creating posters. Then they spoke to classes and their house to encourage better behavior. They also instituted house rewards for cleanliness and consequences for violations. Finally, the students themselves cleaned the toilets when needed and reported success in creating lasting positive change.

1. DARE IF YOU CARE
A project of Loreto Day School Sealdah, Kolkata
Change makers: Sreya Basak, Anwesha Das, Arunima Ghosh, Srijita Mitra and
Enakshi Mukherjee.
Mentor teachers: Ms N.Bir, Ms M.Gomes, Ms R.Ghosh
Step 1-FEEL:
When we were taken on a silent observation walk through the school we
observed that one of the student’s toilets was not being used and maintained
properly. It angered us to see that there were girls among us who were not
fulfilling their duties as responsible students .It was time for us to start fulfilling
ours. We very often turn away from such problems, saying that it’s not our job
and that there are specific people designated to undertake the task of cleaning
toilets. Our only contribution is very often a disgusted ‘Ugh’ or ‘yuck’. But this
time it would be different .This is our school, we want it clean and we dare to get
dirty to achieve it.
• Girls pull the flush and don’t wait to check if water is available.
• Very few make the effort to fill buckets with water and pour it on the toilets.
• Many personal items were not being disposed of in a hygienic manner in
the bin.
• Students were also writing on the walls.
• At certain specific times, especially after break, the toilets would start to
smell badly.
Step 2-IMAGINE :
• Forming a group of five and have a brainstorming session.
• Draw and stick posters with slogans and pictures to make the students
aware of the problem and the necessity to bring about a change in their
behavior.
• Talk about the problem in classrooms & assembly.
• Patrol the toilet area during and after lunch break.
• Think of a way of bringing the defaulters to task.
Step3-Do :

2. • We discussed the problem with our teachers and drew up a list of do’s and
don’ts which we pasted on the toilet doors for everyone to see while
entering.
• We drew posters and placed them around school to raise general
awareness about the problem. Messages were also put on the toilet doors
and the walls inside the toilets.
• We talked with sister and with her encouragement took turns speaking to
the entire student community of the school on health and hygiene, the ill
effects of leaving toilets dirty and our basic civic responsibilities.

3. • As we belonged to different houses we also gave informal talks during
house meetings.
• As a further stimulus, we included the cleanliness of the toilets as a
category in the weekly house performance rating. The house on duty in a
particular week extended their responsibility by including the duty of
ensuring that the girls use enough water and leave only when they have
left the toilet clean for the next user.
• Names of the students who did not pay heed to the request of the
volunteers or vandalized the posters containing messages or rules and
regulations were collected so that we could take action with the teachers
help.
• We took broom, bucket, water and phenyl and went on a cleaning spree
when we thought that the toilets were still becoming dirty.
Step4-Share :
We wrote a complete report on our project, took pictures and clippings of
our activities.
This is an ongoing project and has now become part and parcel of our
responsibility and we have realized that taking responsibility collectively
can make any task seem simple and even, believe it or not, fun. Our
school has forever inspired us with the spirit of service and today we truly
realize that we have already been changed. It makes us feel happy to be
change makers. We have also realized that if our intentions are good
people will see it and help will almost always arrive. This project has also
made us more aware about facts regarding hygiene and health. We can
proudly say that we have brought about a positive change in our school
and have won the support and appreciation of many around us. Now we
know that we have the power to initiate, not only participate and follow,
change.