Tirwun Community
Scarce, contaminated water and crumbling classrooms were holding Tirwun back—Leadership Initiatives stepped in to help.
A New Chapter for Tirwun
Nestled in Bauchi State, the Tirwun community is home to around 10,000 residents, most of whom rely on subsistence farming. Isolated by poor road networks and limited infrastructure, residents struggle to access vital services like healthcare, education, and clean water.
For years, the community faced chronic water shortages, with families relying on an aging borehole, two shallow wells, and a stagnant stream. These sources were frequently contaminated, leading to widespread cases of typhoid and cholera. Meanwhile, the local primary school had deteriorated into an unsafe learning environment, with crumbling walls, broken floors, and a collapsing ceiling.
Recognizing these urgent needs, Leadership Initiatives collaborated with local leaders to develop targeted solutions. The result: two transformative projects—one to restore safe learning spaces for students and another to provide clean, sustainable water for the entire community.
Revitalizing Education With A Safe Space for Learning
irwun’s primary school had long been neglected, forcing children to learn in hazardous conditions. The roof leaked, the ceilings were collapsing, and the lack of desks and chairs meant students sat on the bare floor for lessons. These challenges made it difficult for children to concentrate, while poor ventilation and security concerns further disrupted learning.
To revitalize education, Leadership Initiatives worked alongside the community to renovate the school from the ground up. The project included replacing the deteriorating ceilin, repairing walls and floors to create a stable structure, installing new doors and windows for security and ventilation, and equipping classrooms with blackboards, desks, and chairs.
With these improvements, students now have a safe, comfortable space to focus on their studies, teachers can conduct lessons effectively, and parents feel more confident in their children's education. Beyond the physical upgrades, this project strengthened community engagement, proving that lasting change happens when people come together.
A Sustainable Solution for Safe Water
For generations, clean water was scarce in Tirwun. Families depended on open wells and a stagnant stream, exposing them to dangerous waterborne diseases. The time-consuming task of fetching water—often falling on women and young girls—took hours each day, limiting opportunities for education and economic growth.
To break this cycle, Leadership Initiatives partnered with the community to construct a deep, 200-meter borehole, complete with a pump and storage tank. Now, residents have reliable access to safe water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and hygiene. The benefits have been far-reaching: disease rates have dropped, with fewer cases of typhoid and cholera; women and children no longer spend hours collecting water, allowing more time for school and work; improved sanitation and hygiene have enhanced overall well-being.
To ensure the borehole remains a lasting resource, Leadership Initiatives trained community members in water management and maintenance, empowering them to sustain this critical infrastructure for years to come.
A Celebration of Progress: Marking A Milestone for Tirwun
On May 4, 2023, the Tirwun community gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of their new school and borehole. Community leaders expressed their gratitude to Leadership Initiatives, recognizing the profound impact these projects would have on daily life.
The renovated school now provides a safe, welcoming environment where children can learn and thrive. The new borehole guarantees access to clean water, reducing illness and freeing up time for families to focus on education and economic activities.
These achievements represent more than just infrastructure improvements—they mark a new era of growth, opportunity, and resilience for Tirwun. With access to better education and essential resources, the community is now on a stronger path toward a brighter future.
This community inherited the problem in Tirwun from our great grandparents, the problems have been going on for over 100 years, and we never had anyone who offered to help relieve us of these problems. These projects have absolutely helped our community already; right from the day we started enjoying these facilities, our life have become much easier now. My community members don't have to go a long distance to fetch water, and those buying from local water vendors don't have to spend their money to buy water, hence it helps boost the savings of that family!
