How clean hands protect the New Guinea rainforest
You may not think that regular hand washing helps fight deforestation, but it really does.
In Papua New Guinea, Brother is supporting Cool Earth to provide 24 hand washing stations to rainforest communities. But how does that save trees? Hand washing is the first step in a domino-effect of positive actions that ensure that the forest and its communities stay healthy. It supports a culture of health and hygiene.
Clean hands mean less illness. Less illness ensures that there are more resilient people living in the rainforest to protect it. More healthy people mean fewer trips to expensive medical centres. Less expenditure on medical treatment means more cash security. And more cash security means less economic pressure to fell and sell rainforest timber.
Built by local people in schools, markets and health centres, the hand washing stations have vastly improved life for over 2,500 people. And, in addition, further sanitation training has also been provided for 33 volunteers from eight villages.