What Is CHAST?

CHAST short for Children’s Hygiene and Sanitation Training—is an effective, child-friendly approach to teaching hygiene and basic sanitation in primary schools.
It was originally developed in Somalia by WASH practitioners working on a community program called PHAST (Participatory Hygiene and Sanitation Transformation). After working exclusively with adults,
they realized that it might be easier to change children’s habits and behaviors around hygiene and sanitation than adults. They also believed that once children learned better hygiene practices,
they would take those lessons home to their parents and siblings.

The health workers soon found that children learn best when information is presented in a simple and engaging way. They created a program that is visual, hands-on, and most of all, fun. CHAST does not rely on lectures or long verbal presentations—it uses games, drawings, stories, demonstrations, and role-playing activities to help children understand how germs spread, how to protect themselves from disease, and how to keep their environment clean. Everything is designed to be age-appropriate, easy for teachers to deliver, and simple for children to pass along to their classmates, siblings, and families at home.

The program works best when every student becomes a teacher—or an ambassador—for good hygiene.

Why Drop in the Bucket Uses CHAST

Even with a new well at a school, students remain at risk of illness if hygiene practices don’t improve. Clean water, sanitation, and hygiene must work together.
This program helps bridge that gap by making hygiene second nature to children.

Here’s why Drop in the Bucket uses CHAST in our work:

1. It improves health where it matters most—at school.

Primary-school students are among the most vulnerable to diarrheal disease. CHAST teaches them:

• The importance of effective handwashing before meals and after using the latrine
• How to use latrines safely
• How to store water and how to keep water containers clean
• How to avoid behaviors that could potentially contaminate water sources

These small habits dramatically reduce illness and absenteeism.

2. CHAST helps keep girls in school.

Better hygienic practices are particularly important for girls, especially during their upper primary school years. Girls who understand how to manage hygiene safely and confidently are far more likely to stay in school and complete their education.

CHAST sessions link directly with other DROP programs like safe spaces, menstrual health support, and gender-equality programming.

3. Turning students into ambassadors for their households.

Children carry CHAST messages home. Many parents have told us that their children remind them to wash hands, boil water, or keep latrines clean.
This “child-to-home” learning is one of the program’s biggest strengths—impact spreads beyond the classroom.

4. CHAST helps protect the new water well.

Teaching students how to care for the well helps keep it working longer. this program

• Teaches the importance of keeping livestock away
• Avoiding washing clothes on the apron
• Keeping the area clean and mud-free
• Reporting problems early

This improves sustainability and reduces repair costs.

5. It also strengthens the school community.

Teachers, school management committees, and parents all benefit when children understand hygiene. A school with good hygiene practices has:

• Fewer sick days
• Cleaner classrooms
• Less pressure on health clinics
• A more focused learning environment

Over time, CHAST becomes part of the school culture.

What CHAST Sessions Look Like

CHAST is not a lecture. It uses:

• Story cards and drawings to help children identify unsafe behaviors
• Role-plays to show how germs spread
• Games that demonstrate handwashing and safe water handling
• Group discussions where students choose solutions together
• Practical demonstrations using soap, water, and latrines

Each session ends with simple actions the children can take immediately.

How CHAST Fits Into DROP’s WASH Approach

CHAST is one part of DROP’s larger commitment to water, sanitation, and education. When combined with:

• A reliable borehole well
• Clean latrines
• Handwashing points
• Trained water committees
• Safe spaces for girls
• Menstrual hygiene support

…it creates a school environment where children are healthy enough to learn and confident enough to stay in class.
This is why CHAST is a cornerstone of our school WASH programs in Uganda and South Sudan.