Hand Pump Mechanics Workshop Concludes in Lakes State

(LAKES STATE) – The Women Empowerment Solution Initiative (WESI), a national organisation operating in the Bahr el Ghazal region, has concluded a 14-day training programme for water hand pump mechanics, hygiene promotion, and business skills in Lakes State.

The training, held in Rumek, brought together 20 participants from the seven counties of the state, with an equal number of women and men attending.

Simon Buud Gai, WESI executive director, said the initiative empowers women to earn money while ensuring communities have safe water.

“WESI began operations in Warrap, Aweil, and Wau, and has now extended to Lakes State, where we trained 20 participants, 10 women and 10 men, across seven counties. The project addresses gaps, and I hope our communities will benefit from safe water,” Buud said. “During this 14-day training, participants learned about hygiene promotion, water pump repair, spare parts identification, and trauma healing, which is important because a traumatised person cannot work.”

Buud added that the participants also received business training, supported by a microfinance institution that will work with water points to empower women economically.

Angelina John Awodo, representing Cueibet County, said she gained skills in business, hygiene promotion, and pump mechanics. “I have learned about pump mechanics because water problems cause many diseases. When I return home, I will repair hand pumps or boreholes using the skills I have learned,” she said.

Easter Peter Kulong Gum, a mother of three representing Wulu County, said women are most affected by water scarcity. “I can now repair anything related to a hand pump. The time when only men maintained boreholes is in the past,” she stated.

Robert Kal Majok, representing Yirol West County, said he learned hygiene promotion, trauma healing, business skills, and pump mechanics. “We were equipped with tools and spare parts to fix boreholes in our communities, and we appreciate WESI for the work they are doing in Lakes State. My role is to provide clean and safe drinking water to reduce diseases,” he said.

Samuel Aberic Makur, Deputy Chairperson of the State Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, said spare parts for borehole hand pumps must always be available to rehabilitate broken facilities. “As the RRC, we monitor and evaluate community-level programmes. This training is very important, and women have been empowered. We want national NGOs to fill gaps in the water, sanitation, and hygiene sector,” he said.

Dut Majok, the state director of water and sanitation, said the workshop aims to address gaps in the sector caused by broken boreholes. “This is rehearsal training for hand pump mechanics. By January 2026, the programme will begin implementation. After this refresher training, participants will apply what they have learned in their communities,” he said.