🚿 From Sludge to Spark: How UDS Plumbing Students Revived a Bio-Digester and a Program

It wasn’t a pretty sight. The clogged biodigester at a residence in Jacob Town had become a messy—and frankly, smelly—problem. But for Uniting Distant Stars plumbing students, this challenge wasn’t a setback. It was a golden opportunity.

In a hands-on triumph of grit, skill, and teamwork, our plumbing trainees recently unclogged and restored the system to optimal performance. And thanks to our before-and-after photos (warning: the “before” is not for the squimish!), you can see firsthand how persistence leads to progress.

UDS’s Plumbing Program, launched in 2017, has trained youth in real-world sanitation and water management. However, interest waned in 2024, and the program’s future looked uncertain—until the surprise reveal that our event instructor, Daniel Williams, Jr., had another talent: plumbing!

With sleeves rolled up and wrench in hand, Daniel not only tackled the biodigester but also reignited student interest in plumbing by showing how diversity in skills is essential. His story shows how growth often comes from unexpected intersections.

“Thanks to the UDS family 👪 for trusting me and a big thank you to my Daddy Kelvin Fomba!” Daniel said in a comment in the Uniting Distant Stars Alumni & Student Group.

Now, the bio-digester is flowing smoothly, and the program is back on track. Students didn’t just learn technical skills—they gained confidence, teamwork experience, and a sense of purpose in making communities cleaner and healthier.