Families forced to flee South Sudan are working hard to rebuild their lives in crowded refugee camps. One of their most urgent needs is safe, dependable water. Local teams are stepping up to meet that need.

To strengthen that local leadership, Global Water Center and Water Mission recently partnered to train Plan International’s engineering teams. Held in Ethiopia, the intensive training was grounded in real projects already underway in refugee settlement areas.

Participants gained technical knowledge, hands-on experience, and the confidence to apply what they learned directly to their work serving displaced communities. The curriculum included advanced instruction on solar powered water systems, reflecting the technology used on the ground. 

GWC team members Kogi Chege from Kenya and Christian Ngang from Cameroon led the training, drawing from years of hands-on experience supporting rural water systems across Africa. Jacob Voss and Jordan Deshon from Water Mission also played key roles on the training team, providing advanced technical expertise and encouraging participants to share, ask questions, and apply what they learned. 

But this training went beyond pumps and panels. It was about lifting people up in the midst of a crisis. It was about empowering leaders to serve communities in need, even under the most difficult circumstances. 

By the end of the training, these local teams were prepared to put their learning into action on projects already underway in refugee resettlement areas. Families from South Sudan are counting on them — and they’re ready to deliver.

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