Eric the Viking..you must insist that the school nurse, if there is one, or male and female volunteers from the professional community, screened etc...immediately conduct seminars/classes etc on hygeine..acknowledging to the children that their circumstances are exceptionally difficult, but that they must find ways to wash. if there is any water, a bit of soap, and a bucket they can wash themselves and their clothes. Don't spend one more minute on academics until this is done. Is there a school gym with showers? Can you contact a more prosperous school, explain the circumstances, and ask for clothes their children have outgrown....Tell them that there are ways around these problems...it is of course up to the adults for the small children, but the older children and teens in horrid circumstances are capable of doing some helpful things..certainly washing their clothes, sewing on patches etc. Someone at the school needs to step up to the plate and start some home economics/hygeine and health classes. mg