24 people — of which 13 are females — are now equipped with the knowledge and skills to engage in plumbing jobs.
This follows the completion of a 10-week introductory to plumbing vocational training course offered by the Grenada Citizens Advice and Small Business Development Agency (GRENCASE) and the Climate-Resilient Water Sector in Grenada (GCREWS) project.
During the 10-week training, participants were taught basic plumbing techniques, the installation of rainwater harvesting systems, the installation and use of water-efficient devices, leakage control, and health and safety protocols. The training which started on 7 October 2024, took place at the River Sallee Community Centre in St Patrick.
In congratulating the graduates, Minister of Finance and Parliamentary Representative for St Patrick East, Honourable Dennis Cornwall, highlighted the investment made in the future of our people. Minister Cornwall encouraged the graduates to continue their journey with the same dedication and passion they had during the training and to use the knowledge and training for the betterment of Grenada on a whole. “To all of you my graduands, I offer my deepest congratulations once again. The skills you have gained will not only open doors to new opportunities but will also benefit your families, communities and our nation as a whole. You are now part of a vital sector that will play a role in Grenada’s development and climate resilience.”
Three of the graduates — Kera O’Farel, Samantha John and Mark Harroo — shared their experiences received during the training. For Kera O’Farel, who had prior exposure in the construction sector, the link between construction and plumbing was a perfect fit. She said, “I knew nothing of plumbing, but I have learnt so much. To show the correlation between the 2 skills — learning construction and plumbing, I am reminded of the importance of wearing my personal protective equipment (PPE).”
Another recipient Samantha John highlighted the importance of domestic rainwater harvesting and how it can help in supplementing our piped water supply provided by Nawasa. “It is sometimes a major challenge for Nawasa — based on the weather — to meet the water needs of all households. With this in mind, rainwater harvesting is now a top priority for me. Since I can now put up my own guttering and set up my water tank my future looks bright.”
Mark Harroo, another recipient, explained the household devices that can be used to save water. “We learnt about useful mechanisms or fixtures that can be used efficiently in the conserving of water in our homes. Toilets that use about 1.6 gallons or less to flush; Showerheads that are 2 gallons or less per minute; taps that use 1.5 gallons per minute or less.”
GRENCASE Project Officer Jacinta Telesford expressed that skills training forms the core of their organisation and they were happy to have partnered with the G-CREWS project on this initiative: “GRENCASE is pleased to report that this training showed the elevation of women in plumbing, 13 females started and successfully completed the training. They represented more than 54% of the participants, and we also had 11 males. Throughout the training, the participants demonstrated enthusiasm and a proactive attitude toward acquiring a new skill. Excitement overtook them as they dived into the practical aspects of the training — installing toilets, face basins, showerheads and most of all the energy that was evident when they completed the installation of the guttering for rainwater harvesting and seeing the water flowing nicely down.”
Funded by the Green Climate Fund, the German Government and the Government of Grenada, the objective of the G-CREWS project is to increase climate change resilience in the water supply sector in Grenada. This is achievable through a wholistic approach which also involves capacity building.
Project Manager Brian Bonaparte encouraged the graduands to put their skills to work creating employment for themselves and even others. “These technical skills are not just tools for professional development; they are instruments of change for our communities. By equipping our graduates with this knowledge, we are empowering them to be key players in the movement towards a climate-resilient, water-conscious Grenada. I would like to acknowledge the outstanding work of our partner, GRENCASE, whose commitment to providing skills training and small business opportunities is pivotal in the fight against climate change.”
Bringing remarks from Nawasa, Communications Supervisor Jamila Lewis heaped praises on the graduates encouraging them to go beyond this training. “Today I celebrate the graduation from the introductory plumbing program, developed in partnership with GRENCASE and G-CREWS. Nawasa as an organisation is proud to have contributed to this effort providing training in domestic and commercial leakage detection, rainwater harvesting and water efficient plumbing practices that are crucial for climate resilience.”
The top male and female participants of the programme were Kera O’Farel and Donavan Burke. They both received a plumbing starter kit to help kickstart their careers. The training was facilitated by Charles Brathwaite who has over 20 years’ experience in the field of plumbing.
GIZ
