Eleven (11) Tahderiyyah schools under the Tahderiyyah Program of the Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) in partnership with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) received support on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) through A Single Drop for Safe Water (ASDSW)- a non-government organization working in a principle that Water and Sanitation is a root cause of poverty.

This collaboration started with an assessment to the said institutions which are commonly called Madrasah (Islamic school). Staff from BDA and ASDSW visited those schools to identify existing WASH facilities and sources of water. The team conducted test to water available and being consumed in those schools to ensure its safety based on the standards set for safe drinking water.

The existing sanitation and personal hygiene of the pupils were also assessed particularly on their WaSH practices during school days. The team also identified functional committees in the said Madaris (plural form for Madrasah) in getting their commitment to participate and support the project. The identified committees are the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Political Committee in the area, the MILF Tarbiyyah (Education) Committee and the local government unit of the barangays where these schools are located.

According to Juhaira Ebrahim, ASDSW Team Leader, WaSH program concentrated on Madrasah since it is the place where the children, parents and the community gather and spent most of their time to. “It is also an ideal place to implement behavioral change and to institute preventive programs based on the program principles, Ms. Ebrahim said.

During the WaSH Day Program, inputs on Islamic perspectives on cleanliness were highlighted. The team related some verses from Qur-an and Hadith of the prophet to support the inputs provided.

Part also of the WASH Day activity is the actual conduct of some hygiene practices such hand washing and tooth brushing. ASDSW Team facilitated the activity with demonstration on proper hand washing tooth brushing.

Pupils also enjoyed from the games conducted. They also received WaSH Kits that contains toothpaste and toothbrush that they can use for daily hygiene activities.

Mr. Naut P. Usman, Regional Coordinator of BDA Central Mindanao Region gave overview about the agency during the assessment particularly on its aspirations in strengthening the pre-school education for Bangsamoro and promoting healthy lives of pupils through cleanliness. He also emphasized how the support of the community will strengthen the implementation of Tahderiyyah Curriculum Program (TCP) together with the WaSH program.

This series of activities was conducted from December 2013 to January 2014 in different Madaris in Central Mindanao.

These schools were Mahad Lagundi Al-Islamie at Lagundi, Pikit, North Cotabato, Mahad Kabacan Al-Arabie Al-Islamiya at Kayaga, Kabacan, North Cotabato, Madrasah Norol-Iman at Poblacion, Kalilangan, Bukidnon, Mahad Carmen Al-Islamie at Kibayao, Carmen, North Cotabato, Madrasah Shiek Bandar Attimiyat Academy at Daguma, Bagumbayan, S.K., Madrasah Norul Huda Al-Islamie at Lomoyon, Datu Paglas, Maguindanao, Madrasah Mahaduddin Al-Islamie at Salamen, Kapatagan, Lanao Del Sur and Madrasah Sha-Fie Al-Islamiyah, Pidsandawan, Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

Two Madaris in Bukidnon province were also included in the program. They are Madrasah Nurol Hidayah Al-Islamie at Brgy. Iranun, Kalilangan, Bukidnon and Madrasah Nurol Rahmaniyyah Al-Islamie at Brgy. Pamutolon, Kalilangan, Bukidnon.

This support on WaSH is now part of the monitoring activities of the BDA as implementing agency of the Tahderiyyah Program. This helps in the promotion of clean and healthy living that are being taught in the young minds of the Bangsamoro children.