Media Release

Project Zani

Media Release

Project Zani

Since January 2021, Aalto University’s Sustainable Global Technologies (SGT) studio course has brought together students with backgrounds in Environmental Engineering, Business and Creative Sustainability to form Project Zani - an initiative to address the behavioral aspects of hygiene promotion in line with WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) guidelines in the Kigoma region, Tanzania. The students from Aalto University are working in collaboration with experts from UNHCR and NRC in implementing Project Zani.

The three camps - Nduta, Mtendeli and Nyarugusu - house over 250,000 refugees from Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite the growth in WASH infrastructure and knowledge in the camps, instances of poor hygiene practices still remain a major issue, prompting the students of Project Zani to look beyond the availability of resources (both knowledge and infrastructure) to further drivers of behavior change.

The topic of behaviour change is incredibly layered as it arises from deeply rooted cultural beliefs of different nationalities and regions, and can differ with age, gender, status, education etc. These beliefs may result in unfavourable hygienic practices and misconceptions among the refugees. In addressing such practices and taboos, the team has had to be cautious and sensitive to not hurt or belittle the sentiments of the community.

"During our project, we have realized that besides concentrating on certain groups like women and girls in menstrual hygiene issues, engaging the whole community is crucial in order to break the taboos and silence around some topic"

- Heli, Project Zani

The team has held online workshops and interviews with Hygiene promoters and refugee workers to identify ways in which the promotion process can be developed to aid behavior change. Project Zani is developing a social incentive program, enhancing interpersonal communication methods and materials, as well as developing ‘toolkits’ for the promoters to manage their promotional work better. The aim of these interventions is to equip them to touch upon emotional and cultural drivers of hygiene behavior that can result in long-lasting patterns of hygienic practices. Given the ‘permanent temporality’ of refugee settlements, an essential requirement for the interventions is to be relevant in the long run and adaptable to fit the changing needs of the community.

Covid-19 has posed various challenges for the project, especially from a collaboration standpoint, having to speak with hygiene promotion officers and refugees online rather than on-field. However, with the use of collaborative visual tools, online discussions and workshops, and various media of communication, all the parties are eager to work together to develop effective and sustaining solutions for a healthier refugee community.