The Professional Women for Water and Sanitation were drawn from the Africa Water Association (AFWA). This group of game-changing-women brings together more than 200 professional women in water and sanitation (P4WATSAN) from all-over the Africa Continent. Among the women who make up this group are; women researchers, technicians, engineers, administrators, social scientists and all other professionals in the water and sanitation sector.
Their aim is to; promote knowledge and experience sharing, skills development and coaching of women in various aspects related to water and sanitation, provide a platform of mentorship for the young water professionals and girls in Schools and Water Sanitation Clubs (SWAS Clubs), promote and contribute to national and international initiatives of water and sanitation on matters of mutual interest and enhance collaboration and networking among members, raise the profile of women in the management of water and sanitation and, to contribute to meaningful shifts in policy.
Realistically, the world could use a little more love right now; the growing gap between the rich and the poor, the climate crisis, conflicts all over the world, pandemics, and so much more. This is something that the P4WATSAN (Uganda Chapter) clearly gets as they have turned the year 2021 into one of hope.
The Professional Women have taken to nurturing the environment to secure the future, continuous professional development, mentorship and coaching, donations to special needs children and, capacity building and training of not only members but other professional women country wide.
Nurturing the Environment
April to October 2021, witnessed the P4WATSAN focus on environmental conservation through tree planting. The team commemorated Uganda’s 59th Independence Day by planting trees across all Regions of the Country. Over 200,000 trees were planted that day;
In the Northern Region, 34,100 trees were planted in the districts of; Gulu, Pader, Apac, Kitgum, Lira and Arua. In the Central and Metropolitan Region, 62,300 trees were planted in Masaka, Mubende, Kampala, Entebbe and Jinja. The West and South Western Regions planted approximately 58,700 trees in; Mbarara, Greater Bushenyi, Kamwenge, Rukungiri, Kabale, Kasese, Ibanda, Hoima, Masindi and Fortportal. Whereas in the Eastern Region, 45,309 trees were planted in the districts of; Mbale, Manafwa, Tororo, Sorot, Kumi, Busia and Kapchorwa.
It wasn’t just hoes, seedlings and watering cans, but a bit of sensitization to the women and girl child of how one can make a difference in the world with just one tree. Say; heal the nation with the medicine from it, feed the nation, educate the next generation with that tree’s help and so much more.
Corporate Social Responsibility
The P4WATSAN also believe that giving one’s time to support a cause is enriching not only for those helped but for oneself too. It also paves a path for one to familiarize with the various communities, country wide because, to make a difference in people’s lives, one must first know, connect with, understand and appreciate the intended beneficiaries.
With corporate social responsibility, one would argue that the P4WATSAN are simply being socially accountable, however, there is more to it. The professional women have stepped out of the usual CSR comfort zone and gone the extra mile to best understand and appreciate the world all round. The different; people, coping mechanisms, unrealized everyday blessings and all.
Through April to October, The PW4WATSAN made donations to various individuals, institutions and organizations.
They donated hand washing points to Mount Saint Mary’s College Namagunga (one of the oldest girls’ schools in Uganda). 10,000 Liter water tanks were also donated to the same school to help them improve on their sanitation situation.
Championed by National Water and Sewerage Corporation’s Director Business and Scientific Services, Dr. Rose Kagwa, the professional women helped make a lasting difference to special needs children at the SOS Children’s village in Kakiri. Together with her team, Dr. Kagwa donated food, wash basins, jericans, blankets, toys, and so much more to the children’s village to aid in their day to day lives and show utter love and support because every child deserves it.
SOS Children’s Villages is a worldwide, independent, not-for-profit social development organization that has been working to meet the needs and protect the interests and rights of children since 1949.
The focus of their work is the care for children without parental care and those at risk of losing the care of their parents. In each SOS Children’s Village, a permanent home in a family environment is given to vulnerable children. Each child is looked after by an SOS mother and grows up in an SOS family with 8-10 boys and girls in a natural setting.
Taking time to bond with the girl child, Dr. Kagwa pledged career support to the girls stating, “we need to take what we know and have learnt, all our good practices, and pass them on to the young who are the future leaders and through that, cement the future of young water professionals.
The professionals then visited the Gem Foundation, an organization that opened six years ago and has since had the privilege of caring for 77 orphaned and abused children with special needs in Uganda. The team at Gem Foundation envisions a world where no child with special needs is left behind.
Dr. Kagwa and her entourage joined in this vision and extended a helping hand, donating as much as possible from food stuffs to beddings, sanitation equipment and more.
