Endrick Kegala is a very humble man, a Carver, Canoe maker and a Local house builder who lived in small community in Ranogga Island.
During the implementation of (NSSP) National Sustainable Sanitation Program in Ranogga Island, he was appointed as one the Community Champion/Volunteer representing his community. Despite no experience in plumbing, building culverts or even building toilet raisers, he accepted the call and took up the responsibility as one of the community champion/volunteers for Niuole community.
A training was made on the 29th January- 2nd February 2024, for all community Champions/Volunteer around Ranogga Island on how to help each community in working together to stop open defecation practices. Mr. Endrick learnt a lot from the training and was so eager to help his family and community.
After the training, Mr. Endrick went back home and since his family still practice open defecation, he decided to build a sanitation for his family before assisting his community. After completing his toilet house, Mr. Endrick went and assist those in his community who still practice open defecation. People in his community were so pleased and supported him in his work, however, there are others who have different thoughts about his work and didnβt want to cooperate with the sanitation activity in their community, but despite the challenge Mr. Endrick didnβt gave up, instead, he assisted them and build a full complete toilet for them.
And because of his hard work and commitment, Mr. Endrick manage to make his community a NO OPEN DEFECATION community in Ranogga Island.
Mr. Endrick stated and I quote, Iβve seen a huge change in my family after I built my own toilet, it makes our living so easy, my children no longer walk long distance to relieve themselves, we no longer experience diarrhea, my children also learn and know how to wash their own hands. Iβm so grateful for the knowledge Iβve received, now I finally see the importance of having a proper sanitation.
Other community members heard that Mr. Endrick did a great Job in his community and manage to make his community stop Open Defecation, so they sent him a request, asking him to assist them in building sanitations for their families. He accepted their request with no hesitation. Mr. Endrick stated, I didnβt pay for the knowledge I received during my training on how to build sanitation, it was the blessing I received; therefore, I want to provide service for those in need of sanitation and so that we can make our environment a better place for our children to live in.
He also stated, I have never demand money from the people I worked for, Iβm only providing service for them, theyβre my people and they need assistance, thatβs why I assisting them.
Mr. Endrick spent most of his time helping out in sanitation work, and it became his passion.
He paddled for 2 hours from his village to another village just to collect a Culvert and Raiser Mold to build culverts and raiser for other families who need assistance. That is how committed he was with sanitaion activity.
Sanitation work is not easy,it requires hard work and committment. Mr. Endrick is one of the living proof that anything is possible if we put our time and effort in doing what we love. Few more communities are preparing for No Open Defecation celebration and few of this communities are the communties that Mr Endrick was and is currently assiting with saniation work under the NSSP program implemented in Ranogga Island.
Because of the commitment he had and the passion he built for sanitation activity, he is now one of the active artisans currently engage by the (NSSP) National Sustainable Sanitation Program Implementation team in Ranogga Island and still working, helping people and communities in trying to help communities in building toilet to stop Open Defecation.
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The National Sustainable Sanitation Program (NSSP) Project was funded by DFAT through UNICEF as grant agent and implemented by ADRA across four islands in Western Province.
This impact story was supplied by NSSP Project Team in Rannogah Island with his consent form.
