WaterAid Timor-Leste conducted socialization & training of its newly produced Behaviour Change Communication Products on sanitation and hygiene

Dili – On July 24^th and 25^th WaterAid Timor-Leste with its Technical Lead – Health, Ms. Bernice Sarpong conducted socialization and training of newly produced behaviour change communication (BCC) materials on sanitation and hygiene. These 2days workshop aimed to introduced the newly produced sanitation and hygiene BCC materials to the implementing partners of WaterAid Timor-Leste and the government partners particularly the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, and SMASA from both Liquiçá and Manufahi municipalities.  

Country Director of WaterAid Timor-Leste, Mr. Justino da Silva on his opening remarks said that this event is a good opportunity of our mutual cooperation, and WATL have signed MoU with the Ministry of Health that outlines variety of activities. MoU with the Ministry of Health focuses in coordination and cooperation in health including with the healthcare facilities. Now, BCC materials on sanitation and hygiene have been produced through many consultations and formative research that will be used for socialization, and training for the community, health workers, and teachers. These BCC materials were developed based on the reality in the field.

The National Director of Education and Health Promotion, Ms. Emelia Mendonça on her opening intervention said that the National Directorate of Education and Health Promotion is working on the behaviour change for community’s healthy life which has high correlation with the BCC materials produced by WaterAid Timor-Leste. Thus, National Directorate of Education and Health Promotion will continue our cooperation with every entities including WaterAid Timor-Leste. She added that, even though these BCC materials will be implemented in Liquiçá and Manufahi, but we will use these materials for the socialization in other municipalities as well to encourage the behaviour change within the community.

Mr. Arantes Isaac as the representative of the Vice-Prime Minister of Timor-Leste in the opening session said that this workshop is essential to all the stakeholders as the change maker agents in starting the behavior change in the community. He added that, Government has huge commitment particularly the Vice-Prime Minister of Timor-Leste to cooperate with the other ministries and partners.

The BCC materials on sanitation and hygiene launched on the 24-25 of July are Flip chart, activities, and storyboard produced for the community as the key audience. Furthermore, lesson plan, activities and video animation are targeted to the school children aged 6-12, and another targeted audience is the youth using the produced song.

At the end of the workshop, all the participants produced their integrated action plan in implementing the produced BCC materials to the 3 key audiences in Liquiçá and Manufahi. Therefore, the outcomes of this workshop are BCC materials socialized to all key stakeholders and implementing partners and they also trained and has knowledge on using the tools. One of the participants from the Ministry of Health, Ms. Bendo at the end of the workshop appreciated the work done by WaterAid Timor-Leste team to finally produced BCC materials that are highly relevant with the real condition in community, school, and engaging song targeted to the youth.

This two days’ workshop was participated by the representative of the Vice-Prime Minister, Ministry of Health (national and municipal from Liquiçá and Manufahi), Ministry of Education (national and municipal from Liquiçá and Manufahi), SMASA Director from Liquiçá, health workers, teachers’ representative, and WATL’s implementing partners.

This activity is supported by the Australian Government through Water for Women and implemented by WaterAid Timor-Leste.