We do small but critical water and sanitation projects worldwide using appropriate technology. We invite your participation.
INTRODUCTION
WHAT WE DO
As an initiative of Water Charity, we do small but critical water and sanitation projects. Each one is a solution to a problem, costs no more than $555, and uses appropriate technology. We start them at once and complete them very quickly.
We work with Peace Corps Volunteers serving throughout the world, who assist people and organizations in or near the communities where they live or work to identify, implement, manage, and evaluate the projects.
Each project has a high impact, resulting in clean water and effective sanitation for individuals, families, and communities. We are flexible, and can react to emergencies.
We offer you, individuals and organizations alike, the opportunity to participate in our work, and fund these projects, in whole or in part.
However, we don't wait for donations to come in. We pre-fund these projects IMMEDIATELY!
We like simplicity, so that’s all there is to it. 
ADOPT A PROJECT
If you would like to participate in the Appropriate Projects initiative, we invite your involvement.
Click on the PROJECTS tab and find a project you like. Then, we encourage you to fund it in full. In that way, you will be able to follow the project through, from start to finish, and gain the satisfaction that you have taken a meaningful step toward reducing death and disease.
If you are unable to fund an entire project, donations in any amount are accepted.
The Donate button below each project description is coded so that clicking on that button indicates to us which project you wish to support.
PROJECT SUBMISSION If you are a Peace Corps Volunteer and have a small water or sanitation project that has arisen from your community, that needs funding, and can be done at once, click the SUBMIT tab to read our simple guidelines and make your submission. We encourage and welcome follow-up projects.
We now
accept applications from Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) and
Peace Corps Response Volunteers (PCRVs) !
Here is
our first RPCV project (Appropriate Projects).
Here is our first
PCRV project (Water Charity).
Socal District Association for the Disabled Bathroom Project - Ukraine
LocationSokal District, Lvivska Oblast, Ukraine
Community Description
Sokal is a town of approximately 22,000, located on the banks of the Bug River in the Lviv Oblast of western Ukraine.
The Sokal District Association for the Disabled is a local nonprofit organization which has office space which includes a physical rehabilitation center and space for trainings and workshops. The mission of the organization is to unite the district’s special needs population, helping them in different aspects of their lives, and maximizing their integration into the community.
The main activities of the Association are to promote the rights of the local special needs population, to lobby for better social programs, and to include the special needs population as part of society. The Association regularly organizes activities for community members such as concerts, festivals, and sport competitions.
Since the most recent restroom remodel in 2006, piping in the ceiling above the organization's restroom has begun to deteriorate at an alarming rate. As a result, the restroom ceiling has suffered extensive water damage and the restroom regularly floods.
An additional problem is that the pipes extend over a storage area where donations, such as wheelchairs and crutches, are stored.
Project Description
This project is to repair the piping system that supplies water to the restroom and storage area of the organization.
Project funds will cover the costs of new materials needed to replace the disintegrating system and for payment to locally skilled technicians.
Materials for cosmetic repairs to the water-damaged areas will be covered with any additional funds, with the labor for such work donated by members of the community.
Project Impact
This project will benefit the 25-30 community members who regularly use this space. In addition, approximately 325 community members who attend special events serving the larger community each year will benefit from the project.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Emily Watson
Comments
This project will create safe and sanitary conditions at the facility. It will enable the organization to continue to deliver high quality services to the community.
Emily previously successfully completed the Zabuzhya Library
& Youth Center Bathroom Project – Ukraine and the
Creative House for
Children Bathroom Project - Ukraine .
Dollar Amount of Project
$555.00
Donations Collected to Date
$0.00
ADOPT THIS PROJECT BY CONTRIBUTING THE DOLLAR AMOUNT NEEDED BELOW
Donations of any amount will be appreciated. The full amount will give you "naming rights", if that is something you would like.
Any contributions in excess of the Dollar Amount of Project will be allocated to other projects directed by this PCV and/or projects of other PCVs in this country.
Dollar Amount Needed
$555.00
Conclusion of Lom Yen Community Hall Bathroom Project – Thailand
This project has been completed under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Sarah Brooks. To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK
HERE.
The project was to build bathrooms to serve the Central Community Meeting Hall.
Sarah reports:
The labor to build the bathroom was provided by local citizens, and project funds were used for materials.
Recently, electricity was added to the bathrooms and luckily the new space was not affected by the floods in Thailand.
The Lom Yen Community Hall project was successful in providing a hygienic bathroom for the use of the community when they gather for meetings, festivals, and government events.
Many people use the bathroom on their way to the far reaches of the village, as it is near a safe and accessible road. Villagers are very happy about this addition to the meeting hall.
Conclusion of Basori Pump Repair Project – The Gambia
This project has been completed under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Rachelle Reynoso. To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK
HERE.
The project was to repair the double pump in Basori.
Rachelle reports:
I worked with the water committee, comprised of the Kafoo (area) leaders, to begin to talk about the water issues in the village. We then started a bank account and began collecting money from the villagers to supplement the Water Charity funds, and also to save for when the pumps fail in the future.
Within 2 days of receiving the funds, a repairman came from the neighboring village to fix the double pump.
The pump now provides the only clean water in the village of 15,000. When I left in December the pumps were still working great.
The village is very happy to once again have access to clean drinking water.
After talking with the nurse in the village and looking at the data of cases of diarrhea, we noticed a significant drop in the number of such illnesses.
This project represents a first step toward creating a system that will be sustainable for the future. The village is now working with another local NGO to get their solar pump system fixed using the money they have saved.
Thank you so much for you contribution. It is invaluable to the people who can now drink clean water and keep themselves and their families healthy.
We are grateful to Rachelle for completing the project, and again wish to thank Six Senses for providing the funding.
Guria Youth Resource Center Bathroom Project - Georgia
LocationOzurgeti, Guria, Georgia
Community Description
Guria is a region in Western Georgia located near the Black Sea, and is comprised of several small villages and the regional capital of Ozurgeti. The Guria region suffers from exceedingly high unemployment resulting largely in the economic depression of the entire area. Currently almost all of the factories in the region that at one point in time were profitable are now shut down.
The available education is of low quality, and those students who do receive adequate education leave the region to find work elsewhere.
The town of Ozurgeti does not have a permanent water supply. Sometimes there is only water in the morning or at night, and other times none at all.
Community members from all over the region use the services offered at the Guria Youth Resource Center, a local community center with the mission to support education, professional development, and active citizenship of youth and other community members in the area. The services currently provided by the resource center are English language courses, computer classes, volunteerism development, and civic education and training. The Guria Youth Resource Center also gives local community members access to a library and an Internet Café. At least 200 community members use the resource center monthly.
The bathroom facilities located at the Guria Youth Resource Center are not suitable for the use of children and other community members. Most days the toilet cannot flush because the water tank does not work properly.
The window has broken glass and does not close, and during the winter months the bathroom is unbearably cold. The facilities themselves are unsanitary and there is not even a working door to offer any privacy for the bathroom.
Project Description
This project is to repair and upgrade the bathroom and install a water tank at the Guria Youth Resource Center.
A 500 liter plastic water tank will be placed on the roof of the bathroom.
The roof is concrete and will serve as a stable level base.
A water pump, previously installed by the organization, is located next to the latrine. The pump creates sufficient pressure for the water to reach the second floor, where the community center is located, and the roof where, the new water tank will be installed.
Plastic piping will connect the pump to the tank. A downpipe will also be installed along the exterior of the wall from the tank to the toilet bowl and the latrine.
The budget also includes the purchase of locks for the doors so that visitors to the center may use the bathroom privately. A window will also be purchased and installed. Project funds will be used to purchase all materials, which will be acquired locally.
The work will be done by local community members.
Project Impact
200 community members will benefit from the project.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Rachael Evarts
Comments
With a large water tank there will be water readily available to meet the sanitation needs. Other improvements will make the bathroom more usable, especially in the winter.
Dollar Amount of Project
$555.00
Donations Collected to Date
$0.00
ADOPT THIS PROJECT BY CONTRIBUTING THE DOLLAR AMOUNT NEEDED BELOW
Donations of any amount will be appreciated. The full amount will give you "naming rights", if that is something you would like.
Any contributions in excess of the Dollar Amount of Project will be allocated to other projects directed by this PCV and/or projects of other PCVs in this country.
Dollar Amount Needed
$555.00
Shown Above Are Our Latest Projects
To see our other projects, please use the Search Box above, or the Country, Status of Projects, and Funds Needed boxes to the right.
This summer the Peace Corps community has an opportunity to be part of an extraordinary effort to improve our communities through volunteer service.
President Obama’s summer service initiative, United We Serve, is a call to all Americans to join a volunteer effort this summer and be part of building a new foundation for America, one community at a time. Please visit the 
