South Saharan Social Development Organization, in partnership with WaterAid Nigeria, organized a community engagement event under the Latter-Day Saints Charity Project (LDSC) III.
The project’s goal is to improve access to clean water and hygienic sanitation in communities of Enugu state.
The event marked the fourth phase of the Hygiene Behavioral Change (HBC) campaign, a crucial component of the larger LDSC III project.
The campaign took place at the Community Primary School Mboshi-Aji, with active participation from various demographics within the community.
During the community event, hygiene behavioral change jingles were broadcasted via a public address system to promote sensitization and adoption of improved hygiene practices among community members.
It was an avenue to teach hygiene education. This encompassed proper handwashing techniques, practices, and sanitation and waste management.
In a remarkable display of community collaboration and dedication to improving public health, the South Saharan Social Development Organization (SSDO), in partnership with WaterAid Nigeria, has successfully established and trained a Toilet Committee in Ogrute, Igboeze North LGA. This initiative marks a significant step forward in promoting hygiene behavioral change and improved sanitation practices within the community.
Day 1: Building the Foundation
The first day of the event commenced with a crucial meeting involving key community stakeholders, including the Igwe of Ogrute, the LGA Chairman, and Market Executives. The meeting, facilitated by the State Team Lead (STL) of WaterAid, focused on the handover of the newly established toilet facility to the community and the selection of a five-member Toilet Committee. The STL emphasized the importance of including women in the committee, with a particular recommendation for a woman to serve as the treasurer. It was also suggested that the committee members be unemployed to ensure they have sufficient time to manage and maintain the facility effectively.
During this meeting, the Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting (PMER) officer from WaterAid highlighted the critical role of the committee in maintaining the facility, including keeping daily records of sales and transactions. The Honorable Chairman of the Ogrute community expressed his gratitude for the project and mentioned the recent enactment of a law against open defecation in the community. He assured the attendees that the facility would be utilized, maintained, and managed properly. Additionally, the Igbo-Eze North LGA Chairman committed to employing the five-member committee as ADHOC staff in the local government, further solidifying the community’s dedication to maintaining the facility.
Day 2: Equipping for Success
The second day was dedicated to the comprehensive training of the Toilet Committee members. The training session began with an opening prayer led by the Igboeze North WASH Coordinator, followed by introductions from all attendees. The session was attended by the selected five-member committee, Igboeze North WASH unit staff (Coordinator, Hygiene, and Sanitation officers), the Traditional Ruler of Ogrute community, Igbo-Eze North local government executives, ENSTOWA-Ministry of Water Resources (Sanitation Officer and Assistant), WOSCONET (Vice President and Volunteer), WaterAid, and SSDO staff.
The STL of WaterAid delivered a welcome address, setting the tone for the day’s activities. The WaterAid PMER provided an overview of the training objectives, emphasizing the importance of effective toilet management, the roles and responsibilities of committee members, and the significance of teamwork and collaboration. The SSDO WASH Program Associate led insightful sessions on these topics, ensuring the committee members were well-equipped to handle their new responsibilities.
The Traditional Ruler of Ogrute, Igwe Wilfred Ogbonna, encouraged the committee members to manage and maintain the facility properly. He also promised to send watch guards every Eke market day to inspect the market environment and identify individuals practicing open defecation, as part of efforts to eradicate this practice in the community.
A key highlight of the training was the session facilitated by the Sanitation Officer STU, who covered essential hygiene and sanitation practices. Topics included:
– Basic principles of hygiene and sanitation
– Proper cleaning and maintenance
– Waste disposal methods
– Ensuring the supply of cleaning materials
Participants learned proper handwashing methods and the critical times for handwashing. The sanitation officer emphasized that committee members should ensure everyone using the toilet washes their hands afterward to prevent the spread of diseases. The training also covered the F-diagram, illustrating how feces can be transmitted into the mouth through various means (Finger, flies, fruit, food, foot, and field). Further sessions focused on toilet cleaning, proper waste disposal, and financial management of the record book.
A Vision for Sustainable Change
In conclusion, the committee members developed action plans to ensure the facility’s sustainability. The training ended on a positive note, with a renewed commitment to maintaining the toilet facility effectively.
The successful establishment and training of the Toilet Committee in Ogrute, Igboeze North LGA, demonstrate the power of community collaboration and the dedication to creating a cleaner and healthier environment. SSDO and WaterAid Nigeria are proud to have facilitated this initiative and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the community.
In a remarkable collaboration, the South Saharan Social Development Organization (SSDO) has partnered with MTN Nigeria and the Post Primary School Management Board to bring the #YelloCare2024 initiative to Enugu State. This initiative, celebrating MTN Nigeria’s 30th anniversary, is a 30-day campaign dedicated to promoting education in rural communities. Under the inspiring theme, “Learn Today, Lead Tomorrow,” the campaign aims to provide essential learning resources to students, fostering a brighter future for young minds.
A Commitment to Education
At SSDO, we believe that education is the cornerstone of progress and development. Our objective is to expand educational opportunities for the burgeoning youthful population. Through initiatives like #YelloCare2024, we strive to empower students with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed.
Reaching Rural Communities
As part of the #YelloCare2024 campaign, our team visited two schools in Enugu State: Community Secondary School, Iji-Nike, and Community Secondary School, Ugwuogo Nike. These schools, located in rural areas, often face challenges in accessing quality educational resources. Our goal was to bridge this gap and inspire students to dream big and aim high.
Engaging Activities and Exciting Prizes
The highlight of our school visits was a quiz competition designed to engage students and test their knowledge in various subjects. The enthusiasm and participation from the students were truly heartwarming. To recognize their efforts and encourage continuous learning, we awarded fantastic prizes to the participants, including:
– 100 backpacks
– Textbooks in English and Mathematics
– Workbooks
– Notebooks
– Mathematical sets
These resources are more than just supplies; they are tools that will help students excel in their studies and develop a love for learning.
Looking Ahead
As we continue our journey, we remain committed to our mission of improving the quality of education in Enugu State and beyond. We are grateful to MTN Nigeria and the Post Primary School Management Board for their invaluable partnership in this initiative. Together, we can make a lasting impact and empower students to become the leaders of tomorrow.
At SSDO, we are passionate about making a difference. Join us in our mission to transform education and create opportunities for every child to succeed. Because when we invest in education, we invest in the future.
Last week Thursday, South Saharan Social Development Organization participated in the Inception Meeting and Stakeholders Engagement for Enugu State Climate Policy and Action Plan.
The meeting was an avenue for key stakeholders from government agencies, businesses, civil societies, and youth groups to discuss the domestication of the National climate strategies at the state level.
The goal is to develop a scientific-based climate policy and action plan that will help the state in transforming towards a green economy.
This collaborative effort would ensure that women, children, and people living with disability who are disproportionately affected by the action of climate change will be prioritized through mitigation and adaptation measures.
SSDO’s youth accountability group, Community Accountability Committee, represented by Uchechukwu Godswill, participated in the meeting as one of the invited youth groups representing the community, where they highlighted climate change challenges from the rural community’s perspective.
After the successful establishment of the VSLA groups in Ibute-Nze and Awha-Ndiagu community, the Sister Guardian Initiative project team conducted a monitoring visit to the communitiesThis provided a valuable opportunity to mentor the newly established group and assist in the drafting of their constitution.
Beyond the VSLA monitoring, the team monitored the initiative’s progress, build the capacity of the Sister Guardians, and conduct a need assessment evaluation to strengthen the initiative in the target communities.
During the visit to Ibute-Nze, it was discovered that the women had challenges with harvesting their farm produce as they were constantly being harassed by community nuisances. The Gender Program Lead sensitized them on how to conduct advocacy to community leaders and decision-makers. This was done and has helped to curb the harassment.
In Awha-Ndiagu, the women were supported to champion an advocacy effort for the rehabilitation of the community health center and school hall of Community Secondary School Awha-Ndiagu. Because of the state of the school hall, the final year students couldn’t write their WAEC examinations in the school. The endeavor led to the successful renovation of the school. After the renovation, the students were able to take the NECO examination in the school.
“Through the support and guidance of the Sister Guardian Initiative, we have not only learned how to advocate for our rights but have also seen tangible evidence in our community that advocacy works.” a member of the Sister Guardian from Awha-Ndiagu shared
In Affa-Amofia community, the team used role play to teach the women how to advocate effectively and the right target group to engage to see results.
