About Hygiene Heroes

We envision a world where children do not suffer from easily preventable diseases.

Since 2014, a team of UC Berkeley students under Haas Professor David Levine has developed a curriculum to teach preventative health in underprivileged regions. In prototyping our materials, we learned the most effective way to change behavior is through interactive styles of learning, such as stories, games, and songs. We now work with students and faculty at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo as well as local experts from Asia, Africa, and South America to improve our materials.

Over the last two summers, we piloted our lessons in Chennai, India. The children enjoyed our material and, more importantly, adopted healthier habits. We have adapted our curriculum to incorporate the researchers' feedback and suggestions.

We are currently developing resources on new health topics including COVID-19, Reproductive Health, and Mental Health. See our current projects on the curriculum page.

Our Team

Faculty

Photo of David I. Levine

David I. Levine

Professor, Haas School of Business

Much of Dr. Levine's research focuses on overcoming barriers to improving health in poor nations. This research has examined both how to increase demand for health-promoting goods such as safer cookstoves and water filters, and how to change health-related behaviors such as handwashing with soap.

Photo of William Riggs

William Riggs

Professor, University of San Francisco

Dr. Riggs is a professor at the University of San Francisco and an award winning recording artist and record producer. He teaches housing, transportation and economic analysis and his research specializes in encouraging sustainable behaviors. He is an expert in participatory planning.

Photo of Malathy Duraisamy

Malathy Duraisamy

Professor, IIT Madras

Dr. Duraisamy is a professor at IIT Madras. Her research ranges from labor markets to schooling and human development.

Hygiene Heroes Project Director

Volunteers

A team spanning four continents has worked on developing, testing and revising Hygiene Heroes.

Team Coordinators

US Students Testing in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu Staff

Teach for India Fellows

Filmmakers

Programmers

Data Gurus

Tamil Nadu Interns

Co-authors of children's stories

Makers

Curriculum Designers and Testers

Philippines teams

Team Leaders
Fall 2020 Interns

LogN Coding teams (2022)

Business Intelligence
Game Design
Machine Learning
Robotics
Software Engineering
UI/UX

Partners

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