A Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) awareness camp was held at Smt. Rukmini Shedthi National Government First Grade College, Barkur on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. The camp was organized jointly by the NSS and Rover & Ranger units of the college and the Rotary Club of Barkur.

The camp was inaugurated by Rotarian Walter Cyril Pinto, District Chairman for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. He lit the lamp and addressed the gathering, over 100 students and Rotarians, emphasizing the importance of WASH in maintaining good health and preventing diseases. "Water, sanitation and hygiene are essential for good health," Rotarian Pinto said. "We must all do our part to ensure that everyone has access to safe water and sanitation facilities."

The resource person for the camp was Ratnaashree Joseph M.G. Rebello, a state-level trainer and recipient of the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award. He delivered a comprehensive talk on the various aspects of WASH, including the importance of safe drinking water, proper sanitation, and personal hygiene. The camp lasted for about two hours and was held in the college auditorium.

The participants learned about the importance of WASH and how to adopt healthy practices in their daily lives. Ratnaashree Joseph M.G. Rebello, emphasizing the importance of WASH beyond cleanliness, added, "WASH is not just about cleanliness. It is also about dignity and respect. Everyone deserves to live in a clean and healthy environment."

The camp was a success and helped to raise awareness about the importance of WASH. A participant expressed his learnings, "I learned a lot about WASH at the camp. I am going to make sure that I practice good hygiene in my daily life." The camp motivated the participants to take action to improve their own hygiene practices and to make a difference in their communities.