Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo—The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) will improve access to safe drinking water and teach practical hygiene and sanitation methods through a three-month project in Katanga province, in southern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The newly implemented project, known as Clean School, will run from October to December 2007.

Many rural Congolese families have poor access to clean water and limited understanding of good hygiene, sanitation principles, and practices. The Clean School project will improve the hygiene and sanitation of 12,242 pupils in 18 schools in the town of Lubumbashi by building 208 latrines, providing faucets for hand washing, and drilling five wells.

In addition, students will attend classes in hygiene and sanitation education to encourage safer hygiene practices. Classes will focus on the importance of clean water and hand washing.

Funded by UNICEF, the Clean School project is valued at $445,000.

Other current ADRA DRC activities include projects in education, health and sanitation, and nutrition support and rehabilitation, along with a resettlement program for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and families returning from exile and displacement after the country's decade-long civil war.

ADRA is present in 125 countries, providing community development and emergency management without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, or ethnicity.

Additional information about ADRA can be found at www.adra.org.

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Author: Damien Lumbu Media Contact: Nadia McGill ADRA International 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904 Phone: 301.680.5145 E-mail: Media.Inquiries@adra.org