August 05, 2014

UNIQLO & WinS

Got an ad, by Uniqlo, the Japanese clothing brand, introducing their contribution to unicef's WASH in Schools in Asia.


It's a part of their "Clothes for Smiles" project - http://clothesforsmiles.uniqlo.com/en/

The Clothes for Smiles project developed by UNIQLO and Novak Djokovic is based on a fund of $10 million (US) raised from the sale of HEATTECH and Ultra-Light Down products, with the aim of bringing hopes and dreams to children's futures. $5 million (US)* of the $10 million (US) fund will be given to support UNICEF, and he remaining was chosen the idea of eight from the idea of everybody. $5 million (US)* of the fund.


Half the fund goes to the public offered projects - on e-education, girls soccer, library, hospice, etc. -, and the other half goes to UNICEF to help "provide disadvantaged children with educational opportunities including improving access to clean water and sanitation" (quoting from http://clothesforsmiles.uniqlo.com/en/unicef/ )

UNIQLO's Clothes for Smiles program supports educational projects in three Asian countries—Bangladesh, China and the Philippines—as part of UNICEF's Schools for Asia Initiative.
Many children throughout Asia lack educational opportunities due to poverty, discrimination, and lack of proximity to schools. In addition, other problem – political conflicts, natural disasters and poor infrastructure, for example – often prevent young children throughout Asia from receiving an education.
School for Asia provides disadvantaged children with educational opportunities by promoting "Child-Friendly Schools" that serve the interests of all children. UNIQLO is particularly focusing on building and improving sanitation facilities and promoting hygiene education to children.
From teaching life skills such as hand-washing to building sanitary washrooms with running water, these simple things can help children stay in school and pursue their dreams. Simple things that make all the difference.

Stories available on their website are from China and the Philippines:
1) China vol. 1
 http://clothesforsmiles.uniqlo.com/en/unicef/report2_01.html

in many parts of rural China, where, three out of four schools in impoverished areas lack toilets with clean storage tanks and more than one third of schools lack proper hand washing facilities. Most of these toilets do not have separating walls for privacy either.
While there is a long tradition of learning in China, basic concepts of hygiene, sanitation and health promotion in a school setting have often been overlooked. Poor hygiene and sanitation in schools have been undermining educational quality by being a breeding ground for illnesses and often discouraging girls from attending school.
A school principal, an attendee at UNICEF's WinS training for school principals funded by Uniqlo, made a comment

In the training, a controversial question from the facilitator was: 'Have you ever ingested feces before?'
We didn't want to answer this disgusting question. However, after learning about sanitation and disease transmission such as the 'water, fly and food' demonstration, we had some deep discussions on waste management issues.
"I must say that I came to realize that 'yes, I have.'"
Prior to the training, Ms. Mu and her colleagues had almost no knowledge of the basic facts about toilets, hygiene, disease transmission and sanitation. These subjects were not included in her teacher training courses. What's more, they were considered taboo by most school staff, who regarded sanitation as none of their business.
"In the UNICEF training, I learned a lot," said Ms. Mu, "including standards for school sanitary toilets, hand washing with soap, water source protection, safe drinking water, nutrition improvement, and school safety. Most importantly, I knew that our school was at high risk of transmitting water and sanitation-borne diseases."
Changes in behaviors are achieved through greater awareness which is often accompanied by shocks. Changes in the awareness of the school principals have resulted in schools with better hygiene.

vol. 2

Most of these toilets do not have separating walls for privacy either, pressuring some girls to miss school during their menstrual period.
However, due to budget constraints the washrooms have not been upgraded, and remain very unsanitary.
Moreover, there are no partitions between toilets for privacy, which is of particular concern for girls.

The second school that we visited had upgraded their washroom facilities with the support of UNIQLO.
Although simple in design, the toilets now had running water and a private stall for females.

A new hand washing facility was built next to the toilets. As we visited during lunch time, we saw all the children carefully wash their hands following the 6-step hand washing instructions posted on the wall.
Even a bit of Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) contribution!
(Go to the webpage to check photos of decent and hygienic toilets for children!)

2) the Philippines
http://clothesforsmiles.uniqlo.com/en/unicef/report3_02.html

In the Philippines, numerous schools have a record of poor hygiene and sanitation due to a lack of appropriate hand washing facilities and clean toilets. In such schools, children often become ill, due to diarrhea and toothache for example, forcing them to stay home from school. With long absences from class, children often fall behind in their studies, which may lead them to drop out of school. 
Given this situation, in San Felipe Central School, UNICEF, together with the help of financial donations from parents and teachers, has worked to build and maintain washing facilities and toilets for each grade. 
Toilets were built inside the classroom so that students and teachers remain responsible to keep it clean. Hygiene supplies, such as soap, toothpaste and toothbrush, were provided by the provincial local government. The local government budget allocation for hygiene supplies is a result of advocacy by UNICEF, the Department of Education, and the partner NGO Fit for School, Inc. 
Every morning and afternoon before class, the entire class can be found enthusiastically washing their hands and brushing their teeth in groups. While it is a habit in Japan to wash hands many times a day, it has not become a custom in many regions in the Philippines. Hand washing and tooth brushing are among the most important things to teach students and to make a habit in elementary schools. With the support of the Clothes for Smiles initiative, UNICEF promotes communication with parents and teachers on the importance of hygiene and sanitation for children, and encourages the education of children on this subject. At the San Felipe Central School, such efforts have started to bloom.


Still, I have no idea what of Uniqlo or cloth have something to do with WinS among other things, however, it made me feel better and proud to have put my money into their heat tech pieces! and also,  my contribution by purchasing AIRism pieces last weekend was justified with hopes for something like this project!

Actually I anyway pay to get their heat tech for winter and AIRism for summer underwear pieces for nothing but its quality, though! My top recommendation! ;) (My mom, dad, brother, and even grandpa wear the AIRism underwear! haha Comfort for $10 each for all the family members!)


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