HEALTH AND SANITATION
41
Together everyone achieves more !
By
Rory Macnamara
With ever growing urban populations and the amount of infrastructure maintenance needed on dilapidated housing and buildings throughout South Africa ’ s major cities , we need artisans who can maintain and service existing infrastructure .
This ‘ win-win ’ collaboration could be the beginnings of a solution to this mounting problem . 38 students gained work exposure while doing crucial plumbing maintenance to uplift parts of their communities .
Plumbing Africa visited such a house in Doornfontein recently where learner plumbers were working hard to improve the water and waste systems as best they could under trying and difficult conditions . The condition of the house was appalling , but fixing the plumbing was a start to ensuring healthy access to water and correct disposal of waste .
Under the watchful eye of the Water , Amenities , Sanitation , Services upgrading programme ( WASSUP ) group , a Sticky Situations project operating in Diepsloot and Rabie Ridge two of our informal settlement areas , a group of learners from BluLever Education , were replacing and repairing toilets , basins , showers , and urinals . These students were selected for a two-month work readiness course , called Leadership Base Camp , which is the final selection stage for the BluLever plumbing apprenticeship . The final week of the Base Camp gives students an opportunity to gain exposure to plumbing work for the first time to help then set their expectations about what plumbing work is about . Each team of students was overseen by a qualified plumber who would guide them through the process . Students had
A better message one could not find .
“ Students had a week in which to complete the work , so the pressure was on .”
All images : © Plumbing Africa | Rory Macnamara
One of the toilets . Showerheads and taps were replaced .
Some of the older plumbers might recall the clay pipes .
November 2021 Volume 27 I Number 9 www . plumbingafrica . co . za