In a collaborative effort to uplift young people across the island, Antigua-based non-profit youth organisation Youth Arise Antigua (YAA) has successfully wrapped up its groundbreaking Fresh, Clean & Confident Hygiene School Drive, an initiative designed to fill critical gaps in hygiene education and access for primary and secondary students across the nation.
The drive brought YAA volunteers directly into classroom spaces, starting with Grade Six learners at Urlings Primary School and Form One cohorts at Irene B. Williams Secondary School, where facilitators designed engaging, age-appropriate interactive sessions for both male and female students. Younger participants learned foundational daily hygiene practices, including proper handwashing technique, daily bathing, effective dental care, and clothing maintenance. They also practiced what the team called “germ manners” — simple habits like coughing and sneezing into the elbow to prevent the spread of illness, turning lessons into memorable, fun activities rather than dry lectures. For older secondary students, the curriculum expanded to cover the physical changes of puberty and the new hygiene routines that accompany this life stage, opening up a safe space to ask questions that often go unanswered in standard classroom settings.
A core focus of the upper-level sessions was raising much-needed awareness of period poverty — a widespread but underdiscussed issue where people who menstruate lack access to affordable menstrual products, clean water, soap, and accurate information to manage their periods safely and with dignity. Facilitators guided students through conversations about how peers can support one another, encouraging kindness, respect, and knowing when to quietly reach out to a trusted adult for help for a classmate in need.
At the conclusion of every session, participants committed to the YAA Fresh & Kind Pledge, a public promise to maintain good personal hygiene, respect the changes their bodies go through, refrain from teasing anyone about their body or menstrual health, and live by the values of being “fresh, clean, confident and kind.” Following the success of the initial school visits, YAA has already announced plans to expand the drive to third form classes at Pares Secondary School in the coming weeks, extending the program’s impact to even more young Antiguan learners.
Makiba Ward, Founder and President of Youth Arise Antigua, emphasized that the initiative’s mission goes far beyond teaching basic cleanliness. “Good hygiene is about more than staying clean. It builds confidence, protects long-term health and teaches respect for ourselves and others,” Ward explained. “No student should miss out on learning or feel ashamed because they lack basic hygiene supplies. Through this drive, we wanted our young people to leave not only with knowledge, but with the tangible tools to practise these healthy habits every day.”
The initiative would not have been possible without the support of local business partners and community members, who donated all of the starter hygiene kits distributed to students during the drive. YAA publicly acknowledged the contributions of key sponsors: Omnicare Pharmacy, Perry Bay Supermarket, Ceco Pharmacy, Medicare Pharmacy, Anjos Wholesale, Shadise Gardner, and the volunteer members of YAA itself. “Your generosity is making a difference,” Ward added. “Together, we are helping our students stay fresh, healthy and confident.” The organisation also extended gratitude to the principals, teachers, and student bodies of all participating schools for welcoming the YAA team into their classrooms and embracing the program’s mission.
Founded in 2019, Youth Arise Antigua is a community-focused non-profit dedicated to uplifting young Antiguans through empowerment, education, and development opportunities. Guided by its motto — “Together We Rise, Together We Strive, To Make a Difference in Someone’s Life” — the organisation centers its work on youth leadership development, community service, and fostering excellence among the next generation.