“Global Handwashing Day provides us with an opportunity to celebrate the fact that Lifebuoy has reached over 337 million people across 28 countries with its behaviour change programmes. We are proud that no other brand has touched more lives with this important message,” says Unilever South Africa’s senior vice president, Peter Cowan, “To date, Lifebuoy has educated over 11 million South Africans, including over 2 million children in 4000 schools. We are happy to add another 1500 children to those figures today with the first graduates of our Unilever brightFuture Integrated Schools programme.”

The programme will allow Unilever to increase the impact of Lifebuoy’s School of 5 programme, and replicate it with our other leading brands. This week, another 30 000 schoolchildren will start the Unilever brightFuture Schools Programme, beginning with the healthy habit of handwashing with Lifebuoy.

There are over 2.5 million children in Africa who won’t reach the age of five due to preventable illnesses (in many cases), such as diarrhoea and respiratory disease. Over 40% of these deaths occur within the first 28 days of a child’s life, in the neonatal period. To ensure every child has the opportunity to reach five and enjoy a happy and healthy bright future, Lifebuoy is committed to spreading its behaviour change message. Through its School of 5 and neonatal programmes, Lifebuoy aims to demonstrate that visibly clean isn’t always hygienically clean and how a simple and affordable practise, such as washing hands with soap and running water, can help prevent the spread of disease and save lives.

In preparation for Global Handwashing Day, Lifebuoy released its latest Help a Child Reach 5 video (you can watch it here), which highlights a real life experiment showcasing how hand washing education can change lives, especially in vulnerable communities. Lifebuoy is leading this year’s efforts with the hashtag #High5forHandwashing to raise awareness and instill the habit of hand washing with soap, to help more children reach their fifth birthday.

“The children of today are the doctors, nurses, policemen, and astronauts of tomorrow. Unilever’s commitment is to enable them to reach their full potential by educating them with the correct health and hygiene habits,” says Peter Cowan “The children we educate will not only practice these habits, but will take the message home, sharing the knowledge with their parents, siblings and friends, to create healthier communities. Our vision is a world in which the everyday brands you love can help to make the world a better place.”

For more information, visit www.unilever.co.za. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook, on Twitter or on YouTube.