By Beatrice Gondyi
The Chongsquare Women and Children Development Foundation (CWCDF), in collaboration with the Development Exchange Centre (DEC), Bauchi State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), through the Small-Scale Project Fund (SSPF) with support from Brot für die Welt, has conducted a two-day intensive training for Local Artisan Mechanics (LAMs) in Miri community on water point maintenance and repair.
The training, held from October 13 to 14 2025, brought together artisans from across Miri and neighboring areas to strengthen their technical capacity in preventive maintenance and quick repair of water points. The exercise forms part of broader efforts to promote sustainability and local ownership of water facilities across Bauchi State.
Facilitated by certified WASH technicians and field engineers from RUWASSA, the program combined classroom-based learning with practical field sessions. Participants received hands-on experience in troubleshooting, disassembling and reassembling of hand pumps, and repair of boreholes. The sessions also included role-plays, group discussions, and demonstrations aimed at enhancing problem-solving skills.
Speaking during the event, the monitoring and evaluation officer of CWCDF, Mr. Shadrach Polycarp, said the organization partnered in the exercise to empower local artisans with practical knowledge that would help reduce dependency on external technicians and has repaired 12 boreholes within Miri and Tsohon Kampany communities, adding that "These tool kits were provided under Chongsquare DEC and Broh.
We have rehabilitated 12 boreholes in Miri and Tsohon Campany. We have trained local area mechanics that will take care of whatever eventualities that will come in due time. We have trained 5 people that will be attached to the WASHCOM Committee".
“Chongsquare believes in building community-based capacity for sustainable development. Training local artisans like those in Miri means we are equipping the community to take charge of its own water systems and ensure long-term functionality,” he stated.
Participants also expressed gratitude for the training, describing it as both timely and impactful.
One of them, Malam Musa Ibrahim from Miri, said “We have learned how to identify and repair faults before they become serious. This training will help us maintain our boreholes and reduce the time our community goes without water.”
Another participant, Khadija Musa, appreciated the hands-on sessions, noting that they made complex repair tasks easier to understand. “The practical demonstrations gave us confidence. Now we can handle most of the maintenance ourselves,” she said.
The training was conducted primarily in Hausa, with English translation where necessary, to ensure full participation and understanding by all attendees.
0 Comments