Plumbing Africa March 2018 | Page 34

32 HEALTH AND SANITATION << Continued from page 31 Hensley, who had never been out of the United States before, called the experience amazing. “I met amazing people on the team, the other team members from the other countries,” he said. “It was great to see their style of plumbing or their trade.” Hensley said he worked on tying in the water main coming in from the street and then running the water to the tanks that were going to supply the hand-wash stations and the spray nozzles for the toilets. at the kids, smile, and just their smile and how they’re laughing and everything, that brightens up your whole day and refreshes you, and you give it that 110% again. Even though you’re aching, sore and tired, it just all goes away.” The events of 9–15 November represent phase one of Construction Week. For phase two, which will take place in spring 2018, an expanded team of local apprentices will renovate the toilets in the second building as part of a CPC2017 ‘legacy’ project. “Making sure that we were focusing on what needed to get done most, and then staying hydrated,” Hensley said. “It was hot and humid. I love working in the heat in California, but it was totally different heat out there. Ninety-five percent humidity.” “Phase two is intended to keep the overall momentum going with the programme, plus — most importantly — to complete the remaining construction work for new toilets and hand-washing facilities at SDN Cicau 02,” Kearney said. “We can’t wait to get back there, complete the work at the school, and confirm plans for the next stages … potentially a larger programme in Indonesia, in collaboration with our new partners and supporters that have come together via CPC2017. Though the work was exhausting, Hensley said a simple wave to the schoolchildren would set off a chain reaction that fuelled each day of work.  “We’d get to the school every morning and everybody is exhausted from the day before, everybody’s giving 110%,” he said, “and we wave “The aim is that the legacy project will coincide with World Plumbing Day 2018, continuing to demonstrate the critical link between our Community Plumbing Challenge goals and overall World Plumbing Day awareness; continuing to demonstrate that plumbing is vital to global health.” PA He said time management and the weather were among the biggest challenges they faced.