06/02/2026
Healthy habits are built, not assumed.
In Kolkata, Splash studied how handwashing behaviors changed in schools over time through Project WISE.
After the intervention:
• 79% of students washed with water and soap
• 87% washed both hands
• 90% were still washing with water and soap before eating after 18+ months
The takeaway: behavior change takes more than a message.
It takes water, soap, stations, routines, reminders, school leadership, and repeated reinforcement.
Read the full learning brief:https://splash.org/assets/Changing-Handwashing-Behaviors-in-Schools-Longitudinal-Lessons-from-Kolkata.pdf