J. Selvarani is a teacher in RCM Primary School, Karayanchavadi. She has been teaching in this school for the past 18 years. She is bold and confident, and loves to contribute to her community in whatever way she can.
Six years ago, she has helped a family construct a toilet of their own and since then has propagated the need for clean environment and best practices in hygiene and sanitation in her community.
Selvarani says “Yaadhum Oore Yaavarum Kelir” from Purananuru, which means, “I am a world citizen, every citizen is my own kith and kin”. As part of the community, it is our collective responsibility to keep our environment clean. We need to advocate the importance of using the toilets, hand washing with soap and keeping our community clean.
Last year, we certified Selvarani as a "master trainer". Once certified, our master trainers train other facilitators, teachers, and community health workers to implement our learning program with children in their communities. Since then, her impact has been impressive!
Today, her students know how to use a toilet and when to wash hands with soap. Parents say that their children insist them to wash their hands before cooking. Selvarani is proud that her students are free from diarrhea and stomach illness.
She considers that the greatest satisfaction one could get for their hard work is when they get to see the changes that it brings to the society. She was fortunate to see this curriculum bring good results not only to her students, but to their families too. One of her students has even convinced her grandmother, who has always defecated in the open to use a toilet.
For Selvarani, being a master trainer means giving the children in her community a clean environment and a disease-free life.
“I have been given a chance to save the lives of so many of them. And what a big blessing it is!”
