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HEALTH AND SANITATION
a week in which to complete the work , so the pressure was on . The qualified plumbers each led a team , and the work began :
• In the internal general area three wash-up troughs had the drainpipes replaced and connected to the outgoing main pipe .
• In the women ’ s bathroom four showers were repaired with new showerheads and taps , five toilets and four basins were replaced .
• In the men ’ s bathroom three basins , two urinals , three showers and toilets were replaced with new sanitaryware , taps and showerheads .
• The courtyard had four wash troughs re-piped .
Our visit was in the middle of the week and the two days that followed were devoted to snagging . Yes , there were installations were not perfect and needed correcting , but the experience for the learners was “ invaluable , “ to help understand tools ,” and “ appreciate the role of plumbing ,” as well as “ learning from our mistakes ” – were some of the comments at the wrap up session that day .
The ladies that were there assured me that they are going to be better plumbers than the men !
So , who are the companies and people behind this generous community upliftment project ?
An organisation called MES – Mould Empower Serve – is a Christian integrated social development organisation that has been changing the heart of the city since 1986 and has been actively working towards providing sustainable solutions to pervasive poverty in the inner cities of Johannesburg , Cape Town , Port Elizabeth , and Kempton Park .
We asked Sean Kearney , managing director of the International Water Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation ( IWSH ) to tell us more about their involvement and reason for existing .
“ From the IWSH side , we ’ ve helped mentor and facilitate this project planning over last couple of months and we ’ ve also provided funding support . Going forward we will provide further promotion of this new collaboration and , hopefully , the follow-up activities to come ,” says Kearney .
“ It has been exciting to see this community plumbing effort between MES and BluLever take shape ; we would be excited to help develop the learning experiences of this pilot project and keep working with these partners in this way . We ’ ll aim to provide further support to all involved by helping bring on board additional skills and resources to achieve further impact .
IWSH is the charitable arm of the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials ( IAPMO ) Group . It is IAPMO ’ s own Foundation and exists to develop and support this type of creative social , community , and corporate social responsibility ( CSR ) -type collaborations with plumbing industry partners around the world .
“ IWSH has worked and partnered with WASSUP Diepsloot since the first South African Community Plumbing Challenge project / event back in 2016 and supported several follow-up activities in the years since then . So , we have done a lot of work together , have a good relationship , and any time a new opportunity arises as it did this week , we are keen to connect with WASSUP and incorporate their skills , their experience , and
www . plumbingafrica . co . za @ plumbingonline @ plumbingonline @ PlumbingAfricaOnline November 2021 Volume 27 I Number 9