The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), in cooperation with the Lebanese National Commission for UNESCO and the Lebanese Ministry of Education and Higher Education, has concluded its program to improve water and sanitation systems in rural schools and raise awareness to promote behavior change (WASH), which was implemented in several underserved areas of Lebanon between May and July 2025.

This program represents the Lebanese edition of a broader initiative implemented by ICESCO through its Science and Environment Sector, titled “Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene in 1,000 Rural Schools”, which aims to enhance water, sanitation, and hygiene services in educational institutions throughout the Islamic world. The Lebanese edition focused on building sustainable infrastructure for water and sanitation systems, and on promoting healthy behaviors among students and teachers.

The program included capacity-building workshops and community awareness activities, targeting 10 rural and semi-urban schools in the Bekaa and South Lebanon regions. Activities involved the construction and rehabilitation of water and sanitation facilities, training sessions for students, teachers, and local community members, and the distribution of a hygiene awareness guide designed to achieve long-term behavioral impact. The program directly benefited more than 3,000 Lebanese students, teachers, and community activists.

In his speech during the closing ceremony, Dr. Wissam Chehade Expert in the Science and Environment Sector at ICESCO, stated that this initiative embodies the Organization’s core values of dignity, inclusion, and health for all children in schools, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

Dr. Chehade praised the strong cooperation with local and national partners, and the active engagement of students and teachers, affirming that the conclusion of this phase marks the beginning of broader efforts to expand the program to other areas in Lebanon, and to replicate its successful model in other ICESCO Member States.