Training the Players of Tomorrow: Workshop on Water & Waste at the Polytechnic University of Gitega

As part of the Programme d'Appui au Secteur de l'Eau et au Renforcement de la Résilience au Changement Climatique (PASEREC), an awareness-raising and training workshop was held on Friday, 9 April, for students at the Polytechnic University of Gitega. This programme, supported by the African Development Bank through UNICEF, aims to promote sustainable, equitable, and resilient Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services, in line with national ambitions for sector reform. The programme targets eight provinces: Cibitoke, Bubanza, Cankuzo, Rutana, Ruyigi, Mwaro, Kayanza, and Gitega.

Component 2 of the PASEREC programme, implemented by UNICEF, aims to improve the sectoral environment through regulatory and organizational reforms and to strengthen the governance of water and sanitation services.

The workshop enabled participants to deepen their understanding of the reforms underway in the water and sanitation sector, while addressing crucial issues such as climate change adaptation, sustainable water resource management, and the involvement of the private sector through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).

Espoir Parfait Ndayishinguje, a second-year student in the Water, Pollution and Sanitation department, confides: "I didn't know that urine could be used as fertilizer, and this discovery really impressed me. It could help us manage waste more effectively while improving families' quality of life."

A realization shared by Maurine Butoyi, a third-year student in the same department: "What I learnt from the workshop is that waste management is often neglected or poorly carried out, whereas it could represent a real economic opportunity. It opened my eyes to a potential that needs to be harnessed."

The Director of Research and permanent lecturer at the university, Mr. Niragira Vianney, a specialist in environmental and water quality control, emphasized the relevance of the workshop’s content: "I myself am an expert in the field, but I appreciated the emphasis placed on personal protection when handling waste, as well as on the sorting of biodegradable and plastic waste. It's very important for students to master these aspects."

Beyond technical knowledge, the workshop raised students' awareness of environmental issues and the role they can play in building a more sustainable future.