Sightsavers worked with Unilever and Lifebuoy on a flagship programme in Africa that aimed to prevent childhood blindness and eliminate trachoma.

The infectious eye disease is spread through contact with hands, clothing and infected flies. About 1.5 million people are blind or visually impaired because of it.

The programme launched in Kenya, Ethiopia and Zambia in 2014, and expanded to Nigeria in 2018.

More than 300,000 children were educated about the importance of washing their hands and face frequently to help stop the spread of the disease.

How does the programme work?

As part of Super School of Five, children followed a 21-day programme that featured the adventures of five superheroes. The characters – designed by Craig Yoe, who worked alongside Jim Henson on The Muppets, and his wife Clizia Gussoni – encouraged children to understand the importance of good hygiene habits, particularly washing their face and hands with soap at five key points throughout the day. The 21-day timescale was chosen because research showed this was the optimum time needed for children to change their behaviour so it becomes habit.

• Children were taught to say a pledge to wash their hands with soap, which they repeated five times to memorise it and help it become habit.
• They were given a flip chart of activities that focused on the superheroes beating the evil trachoma infection and battling the flies that spread the disease.
• There were also games, songs and dances, and children were encouraged to make up their own songs and draw their own murals.
• Competitions were set up within schools and between neighbouring schools to reward the best work, with prizes for the winners.
• All children received a certificate at the end of the 21-day programme.

Hand and face-washing stations were installed outside classrooms, toilets and eating areas at the schools. If there was no water source nearby, teachers and students collected water in jerry cans and ensured each station was filled.

As well as educating children, the programme empowered them and their teachers to change behaviour in their communities. They were encouraged to spread the word about the importance of hygiene and teach others in their family to wash their hands and faces properly.

The programme was supported by national governments and funders including The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust and UK Aid.