Change Agents: A journey towards hygiene behaviour change
Joti, 20, had made herself a fine example for women working in the ready-made garments of the country to live. She aims to improve health outcomes and workers’ productivity in the garment industry by raising their awareness on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). Joti has been volunteering as a Change Agent and empowers the RMG factory workers with hygiene education and practices.
“The learning and sharing knowledge on WASH builds a sense of community in my work. I feel happy when my co-workers benefited from the learning session and implement those at the workplace and at home. Through this training, I got the opportunity to inform people about everything I learned.” Joti Explains.
“I have been working as a General Operator, now selected as a Change Agent and took part in the training about WASH. There I have learned about handwashing, safe water, improved sanitation, and menstrual hygiene management.
I learnt many new things during the training sessions, including the proper way of washing hands and showing this to my co-workers. I also taught my mother how to wash hands properly with soap. So, now my mother can take proper care of my son when I go to work every day."
"Safe menstrual practices were an important part of the discussion. As a Change Agent, I feel that women and girls should practice proper menstrual hygiene management (MHM). Talking about menstrual hygiene sessions with men was difficult for me because I had not done it yet; but in our training sessions, facilitators taught us that informing men about menstrual hygiene is as important as informing women. If they do not know about it, how can they support their wife, mother, or sister? I support my co-workers by emphasizing on the necessity of talking about MHM openly."
Joti's journey is as a Change Agent is transformative and she observed some behavior changes among the RMG workers already. While the number is low, she is confident that with time, this will improve as she exercises her role as a hygiene champion.
In total, 90 people, inclusive of both women and men workers, were selected and trained to become Change Agents in three factories under the project.
Just like Joti, Arifa Khatun also became a Change Agent. When she started her journey, she was not taken seriously by her co-workers but she never gave up. After two months of constant effort, she has managed to change 20 people’s behaviours towards washings hands, drinking clean water, sanitation and MHM.
“Around three months ago my floor manager called me and asked me to join a training. There I learnt about handwashing every step, drinking clean water, sanitation and menstrual hygiene and management (MHM). Before this training, I did not know about them properly at all. During the training, I had this feeling that many like me exist - who do not know about them. But luckily now I know these things, so I should make people aware of those who do not have the knowledge."
"So, after we completed the training, the facilitator named us Change Agent. That means from now on those who participated in the training it is their responsibility to inform their co-workers and people around them so that their behaviours can be changed for achieving a hygienic life."
Every month, each Change Agent has to share knowledge with 10 people and follow up with them in person. Arifa felt nervous at first regarding approaching people and talk to them about sensitive topics - especially men concerning MHM. This improved progressively and more men were interested and willing to join the training on MHM. "That made me feel hopeful because if men and women worked together, then any kind of change must have happened soon."
"From the very beginning of the journey me being a Change Agent, I have told myself that no matter what people will say or do, I will be my own motivator and will not stop until I change my surroundings and ensure a healthy environment.”
