ELDS Rolls Out Hygiene and Sanitation Project in Dowa

The Evangelical Lutheran Development Service (ELDS) is set to implement a 12-month sanitation and hygiene project targeting 85 villages in Dowa District, covering four traditional authorities: Dzoole, Mkukula, Chiwere and Msakambewa.

The initiative will focus on promoting improved hygiene practices in both schools and communities. Under the programme, seven teachers from each participating school will be trained in hygiene promotion, alongside 1,463 learners who will be engaged through the “hygiene heroes” concept and sports-based approaches.

As part of enhancing awareness, ELDS will also organize annual inter-school sports tournaments involving six schools, creating a platform to spread hygiene messages beyond the targeted institutions.

ELDS Project Coordinator for Dowa, Pius Khozi, said the project will be implemented in collaboration with water supply interventions being carried out by , aligning with the broader goal of improving quality of life in communities.

Khozi highlighted that key activities will include post-Open Defecation Free (ODF) interventions aimed at preventing communities from reverting to unsafe sanitation practices. The project will also promote market-based sanitation to help households upgrade from basic to improved latrines.

He added that dialogue sessions will be conducted with community structures such as Village Health Committees to promote low-cost sanitation solutions and handwashing technologies.

The programme will further strengthen sanitation efforts through school-based Social Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) and link champion households to local stakeholders to expand access to improved sanitation facilities. Four Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) latrines—comprising 16 holes each—will also be constructed.

“In the four traditional authorities, the project will intensify the dissemination of hygiene messages to promote positive behavioural change in both communities and schools,” said Khozi.

Currently, ELDS is implementing development interventions in 12 districts across Malawi, focusing on areas such as sustainable livelihoods, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), health services, climate change, disease management and human rights.