The EWSI program is an international training program advancing and bridging the knowledge gaps in local communities all across Africa and other parts of the world. In this cohort, over 140 participants were awarded scholarship to join the program from 15+ countries in Africa, Asia and Europe. Out of this number over 40 left as Certified Water and Environmental Sanitary Inspector after completing the courses, conducted fieldwork in their communities and defending real research.
🌍 A Journey That Spanned Two Continents
On 25 April 2026, something extraordinary happened.
From the highlands of Pakistan to the villages of Cameroon, from the water-scarce districts of Punjab to the coastal communities of Ghana – 3 EWSI candidates defending months of fieldwork, data analysis, and community-driven research before a world‑class panel of experts.
And on 3 May 2026, they crossed the virtual stage to receive their EWSI Advanced Professional and EWSI Professional certifications.
This is the story of Cohort 5 – and a glimpse of your future.
The Defense: Where Theory Met the Real World
The Panel of Experts
Three leaders challenged, guided, and ultimately certified our candidates:
- Dr. Nilam Sari – Sustainability & Climate Policy (Indonesia)
- Dr. M Anique Azam – Assistant Professor NED University of Engineering and Technology (Pakistan)
- Ekolle Eya– Climate, ESG & Water Expert (Cameroon)
Their questions were sharp, their insights generous, and their standards high – because real communities depend on real solutions.
Research That Matters
Our advanced candidates didn’t just learn theories. They went into the field – often on foot, always with a smartphone running EKCOLAB Analytics.
Here’s a taste of what they defended:
| Candidate | Country | Research Topic |
|---|---|---|
| Julius John | Malawi | Assessment of Water, Sanitation, Environmental, and Climate Risks in Chirimba Community, Blantyre Using the EKCOLAB Analytics Platform |
| Abowe February | Uganda | Assessing the Effect of Poor Sanitation in the Transmission of Fecal-Oral Diseases in Ruti Community, Mbarara City |
| Michael Mkandawire | Malawi | Microbial Quality of Household Drinking Water and Associated WASH Practices in Mchengautuwa Community |
Every defense included a live demonstration of how their data became actionable insights. The panel didn’t just ask “what did you find?” – they asked “so what? And now what?”
🎉The Graduation: A Virtual Celebration Like No Other
On Sunday, 3 May 2026, the Zoom room filled with smiles and happiness.
Ekolle Eya, Founder of EKCÖLAB, opened the ceremony with a simple truth:
“A certificate is a piece of paper. But a digital badge that verifies your skills to the world gives you the passport to impact.”
What Made This Graduation Special?
✨ Digital badges – Graduates received a verified, shareable EWSI badge (cyan for Professional, gold‑accented for Advanced).
✨ Global roll call – Graduates stood (virtually) as their countries were named: Pakistan, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, Indonesia, and more.
✨ Top Graduate Awards – Special recognition went to those whose showed exceptional qualities and technical know-how
✨ The EKCOLAB Analytics showcase – Graduates showed how they used the tool to turn field data into community action. Graduates from Malawi, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, already used their findings to alert local authorities about a contamination risk before an outbreak occurred.
🌟 Why You Should Care – Even If You Missed Cohort 5, Cohort 6 is coming.
And the bar has never been higher.
What our graduates achieved in 2026 proves that you don’t need a PhD to produce PhD‑level impact. You need:
- WHO‑aligned training
- A digital tool that turns your phone into a field laboratory (EKCOLAB Analytics)
- Mentorship from experts who have done it
- A global community that celebrates your success
That’s the EWSI difference.
🚀 What’s Next?
We are already preparing for Cohort 6 (starting later this year).
🎓 Scholarships will be announced.
💻 The curriculum is being updated with new case studies from this defense.
📱 EKCOLAB Analytics will add even more AI features for predictive risk mapping.
🔗 Ready to Start Your Own Journey?
Cohort 6 is on the horizon. Don’t let another year pass. Be the first to know when applications open.
👉 Join our waiting list here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/JR1bk4AntybGjBJRh2QTsi
👉 Watch the defense highlights on YouTube: https://youtu.be/e82Iu7oQbiA?si=0_xcKiVyf8H07MV4
👉 Follow EKCÖLAB on LinkedIn for daily updates and graduate stories: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ekcolab/
👉 Follow EKCÖLAB on Facebook for daily updates and graduate stories: https://www.facebook.com/WATERSAFEGUARD/
Your community needs you. Your career is waiting. The water and environment problem won’t fix itself.