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    • Dec 6, 2021
    • 3 min read

Changing WASH For Our Youth: Masy Launch WASHEd Project

The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Education (WASHEd) Project Launch was filled with education, empowerment, and acted as a serious turning point for the growth of Masy Consultants.


Launched on 12 November 2021, Masy Consultants was proud to kickstart their Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Education (WASHEd) program at the Bayfront Capital Hotel in Cebu City. The program, which aimed to build awareness around WASH and cultivate community action, allowed the team to strengthen their mission to introduce WASH-related modules into the national curriculum.

The event, which saw strong collaboration between the Australia and Philippine-based teams, demonstrated the partnership between several organisations on their journey to promote WASH awareness. Featuring appearances from Masy co-founder Thomas Da Jose and ASEAN Foundation Head of Program Mahmudi Yusbi, both stressed a clear focus on combating WASH insecurity and planting the seeds for a major reunderstanding of its importance, especially in educating Filipino youth from at-risk communities. This was further elaborated by Khaing Hnin Hnin Oo and Steven Setiawan from the Empowering Youths Across Asia Program (EYAAP), who utilised strong empirical data to justify the program’s modules and demonstrated a clear understanding of the obstacles that a lack of WASH awareness has created. Finally, optimism was radiated by Engr. Manny Taguba, who spoke at the event representing the Philippines Society of Sanitary Engineers.


Finally, Masy team-members Phil Saraspe, Kathleen Faigal, and Ira Joshua Manuel were eager to connect with attendees and lay out the general direction of the project. Lifelong engineers and educators, their passion and commitment to making change for vulnerable communities remains undeniable.


The three schools involved in WASHEd’s pilot implementation are Swang Calero Elementary, Pasil Elementary, and Tejero Elementary School. These three institutions are considered to be within a close proximity to identified high-risk communities in Cebu City regarding Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. By adhering to this program, the Masy team are confident that promising signs of refocused youth attitudes towards WASH will be on clear display. This will not only be effective in combating the ongoing threat of COVID-19, but also help new generations of Filipinos better understand the importance of sanitation in ensuring a high quality of life.


In response to questions regarding the future of WASHEd and its potential, Project Lead Phil Saraspe stated that “[the curriculum] includes but is not limited to relevant laws and ordinances, concepts, and skills related to water resources and sustainability, water health and safety, sanitation practices and so on. These are needed to make youth understand that access to clean water and sanitation is a right, but we also have to take individual accountability on our part.”


Victories like these are a sign of the increased momentum that Masy has gathered with their projects. Co-founder Thomas Da Jose was also invited to provide his insight for the ISANA Conference on 1 December 2021, his contribution highlighting the work that needs to be done within the Philippines and how Masy has managed to utilise grants to get community projects off of the ground. By allowing youths to become involved in Masy and highlighting the importance of social enterprises in areas of need, there is a sincere hope that efforts to create real change will continue.


Did you miss our WASHEd Project Launch and want to see what all the excitement is about? Watch the event here: https://fb.watch/9wCwn_K44G


This event would not have been possible without the help of the Philippine Society of Sanitary Engineers, the ASEAN Foundation, emPowering Youths Across Asia, the Maybank Foundation, and the Department of Education - Cebu City Division. Their support has been invaluable in providing us with the help necessary to ensure the day was a success.

 

About Masy Consultants

Masy Consultants is a social enterprise that provides clients with services ranging from project management and consultations to community engagement in the areas of clean water, sanitation, and renewable energy. With a team of professionals based across Australia and the Asia-Pacific, Masy remains results-driven, collaborative and resilient when it comes to delivering the best possible outcomes. Learn more at www.masyconsultants.org.


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