At just 11 years old, Habiba is already a leader. She’s the bright, confident President of the Hygiene Club at Addis Fre Primary School in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and she’s helping her classmates build healthier habits that ripple far beyond the schoolyard.

Before Splash arrived, water was scarce. “We only had water twice a week,” Habiba remembers. “Some students couldn’t wash their hands or drink water at school.” On the days the municipal water didn’t flow, students brought water from home in small containers. Lessons were interrupted. Hygiene was an afterthought.

But when Splash partnered with Addis Fre Primary, everything changed. Today, new child-friendly handwashing and drinking stations line the school compound – bright blue and orange, well-used, and loved. “I learned the importance of drinking clean water,” Habiba says proudly. “It prevents many diseases. I also learned the critical times for handwashing with soap.”

As leader of the Hygiene Club, she teaches those lessons to her classmates. “We remind students to wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet,” she says. Her efforts, and those of her peers, are transforming the culture of her school.

When asked what she dreams of becoming, Habiba doesn’t hesitate: “I want to be a doctor and help vulnerable communities.” Her future is bright, and so is the future of her school. Thanks to donors like you, children like Habiba aren’t just learning about health – they’re leading it.