Helping refugee children
grow up healthy

Lifebuoy & UNHCR have partnered on a mission to help refugee children grow up healthy by promoting the use of soap and encouraging handwashing behaviors. Refugee children often live in vulnerable conditions with little access to clean water or adequate sanitation. It is within this context that Lifebuoy and UNHCR are working together to bring handwashing lessons to refugee children, to help them grow up healthy.

Lifebuoy’s proven handwashing behavior change program called “Mums Magic Hands” was launched in 2015 post the Nepal earthquake and then scaled up globally to reach over two hundred thousand people. The program talks about mother’s magical hands, that take care of their children, nurturing them against all odds. Through the program the audience understands that the simple habit of washing hands with soap at key occasions can help children grow up healthy.

Lifebuoy and UNHCR have launched this program in 2019 reaching 10,000 refugee families living in the Middle East. As part of this program, thousands of refugee children are learning the importance of using soap at key occasions. The message is brought to them in a most engaging manner - using various materials such as storyboards, games, puppet shows, songs/dance and community reminders.

Mothers have found the Mums Magic Hands program very relatable and look forward to the volunteer teams coming in to run session with them. Additionally, they felt the program was a relief from their day-to-day activities and they felt empowered to take control of their family’s health amid their fragile conditions.