Appropriate Projects

Community Description
Basse Santa Su is located in the Upper River Region of the Gambia, which is the furthest region from the capital city of Bangul. Although Basse is a regional capital, it has taken many years for the inhabitants to see the development of their city. However, within the last 10 or 15 years, the residents have seen the construction of hospitals, schools, and markets, and various NGOs have posted their offices in Basse.

The city of Basse has over 15,000 people and the residents are mostly from the Fula tribe. Farming is the primary source of income, but there are also a good number of educated people who work for government offices and various NGOs.

Basse is also home of the regional governor’s office and its roads are used by Senegalese and Guinean truckers to transport goods throughout West Africa.

About five years ago the Basse Health Center opened a facility where anyone can be tested for HIV/AIDS virus free of charge. They also provide voluntary counseling for those being tested and provide at-home care for those who are living with the virus. They have recently started a support society for people who are HIV-positive in which they educate them about nutrition, medication and stigmas.

Three years ago, the hospital, in association with a local NGO, built a support center where patients can come and stay when they are receiving treatment at the health center. The house has been completed but the group members and staff are in need of proper latrines.

Presently, two poorly dug holes in the back of the house are relied upon for sanitation. However, they are not reinforced or supported, and the holes began to cave in during a heavy rainfall that occurred 2 months ago.

Project Description
This project is to build a latrine at the support center. The structure will contain two stalls, plus showering facilities. Construction will be of concrete.

Project funds will be used to pay the diggers and purchase cement, corrugate, sand, and gravel.

The structure will be built by male members of the support who will be donating their labor.

The project will be carried out under the direction of the staff of the Kebajara Support Society.

Project Impact
This project will benefit over 400 people.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Elizabeth Thompson

Comments
A well-constructed latrine will ensure a safe and sanitary place that patients and staff will be able to use for their daily functions. A hygienic facility is especially important to HIV/AIDS patients whose immune systems are already compromised.

This is the third Appropriate Projects project to be carried out by PCV Elizabeth Thompson, the first two being the Kuwonku Well Project – The Gambia and the Darsilami Mandinka Pump Project – The Gambia.

Dollar Amount of Project
$450.00

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
$450.00

Community Description
Ban Bak Bang is a rural community in the northeast province of Nakhon Phanom Thailand. The village is comprised of 176 houses/families totaling more than 850 people and is located approximately 25 kilometers from the Mekong River, which is the Thailand-Laos border.

Bak Bang is one of 12 villages in the sub-district of Piman, relatively close to the Phu Phan mountains. It is accessible only by traveling more than 4 kilometers on a dirt road. Nearly all villagers work in an agricultural field. Rice farming is the main crop, with increasing numbers of rubber trees also being planted. The terrain is largely plains, which is conducive for rice farming, but also contains many forests.

One of three kindergartens in the 12 villages of sub-district Piman is located in Bak Bang near Wat Pho Chai Sii.

The kindergarten in Bak Bang has approximately 30 students (ages 2-4) and 2 teachers. The restroom facilities are in a very poor condition. The sinks are also not appropriate for the children from ages 2 to 4.

The kindergarten is located adjacent to the grounds of Wat Pho Chai Sii. This general area is a frequent location for village meetings.

Project Description
This project is to provide all needed improvements to the restroom facilities by renovating 3 of the 8 restroom units.

One adult sized sink will be removed and sinks (one long or several individual) will be installed at an appropriate height for children ages 2-4 (approximately 40 centimeters from the floor, rather than 90+ centimeters existing today).

Project funds will be used to purchase materials for the project. The labor will be done by local villagers.

The improved bathroom facilities will help the teachers in their effort to teach good oral hygiene and sanitation principals.

The project is being carried out under the direction of the Sub-District Administrative Office (SAO) Piman, with the support of Puyaiban Sawat, the Village Leader of Bak Bang.

Project Impact
The project will benefit the 800+ adults and children of the village who regularly use the facilities. The most impact will be on the 30 students who attend kindergarten daily as well as the 2 teachers.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Anita Root

Comments
This project will allow the school to better serve the needs of the school and the community. It will instill pride and satisfaction in those helping to implement the project and the people who utilize the facilities. Proper sanitary facilities will promote better hygiene practices, thereby improving the health of the villagers.

Dollar Amount of Project
$500.00

Donations Collected to Date
$50.00

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
$450.00

The project was to connect the village’s main clean water supply, to 6 outlets on the school premises. The school was able to accomplish much more within the allocated budget.

Peace Corps Volunteer Diana Wong reports on the project:

The Kandieng High School water pipes are connected and the School Director, Mr. Phay Leng, has turned on the water!

It took 15 students over a period of 4 days to dig the trenches, lay the piping and seal off areas with cement. Over 250 meters of pipes were laid throughout the school, connecting to the girls bathrooms. Including the girls bathrooms, there are now a total of 14 outlets around the school.

Further, we purchased extra pipes and valves to connect the Secondary school with running water. Once the male students have completed their summer classes, they have plans to connect the pipes from the high school to the secondary school, located on the same piece of land as the high school. This should be completed by mid- October.

Diana reports on reaction of the school to the project:

The bathrooms are now a lot more pleasant to use and the boys living at the school are very excited about the clean water. The school director is very happy with the project, and said that it came at a good time, as school will start in about a month!

We are grateful to Diana and the school and community members involved in carrying out such a fine project in a timely manner.

We also wish to thank Six Senses Resorts & Spas for providing the funding for this successful project.

Community Description
Guia is a town of 6,000 people in the St. Louis region of Northern Senegal. Its only school is the primary school where 400 children attend yearly. The school itself receives water from a nearby forage (hand-powered water pump). Most of the people in Guia are of the Pulaar ethnic group and speak Pulaar du Nord.

The rivers in Northern Senegal carry much schistosomiasis, a parasitic infection that comes from contaminated water. Improperly constructed latrines and a lack of faucets limit the availability of clean-water systems to the primary school students.

Currently at the school there are 4 latrines built. However, 3 of them are stopped up, clogged to the point that they can no longer be used.

Project Description
This project is to reconstruct the three latrines that are non-functional at the school.

Current plumbing will be unplugged and removed in all 4 faulty latrines. The waste pit behind the latrines will also be emptied, enlisting the aid of a hired truck to move the waste.

The plumbing will then be repaired by replacing the old pipes with larger ones and reforming the plumbing architecture to prevent the latrines from re-clogging in the future. Additionally, holes will be added to the waste storage structure behind the latrines, and pipes will be installed for ventilation.

Finally, a sink will be installed next to the 4 latrines, a necessity that the school currently lacks. In addition, minor repairs of the structure will be made.

Project funds will be used for materials, such as cement, sand, gravel, and piping, and for labor and transportation.

The work will be headed up by a local mason who is well known in the community. The school will be involved throughout the project, providing input and overseeing the construction.

The project arose out of the involvement and interest of the community and school. The village chief and the principal of the school made the initial proposal.

The project includes training and follow-up regarding the importance of using latrines rather than going to the bathroom in the river. This educational process will ensure that the new facilities will be properly used.

Project Impact
400 students and 13 teachers will benefit from the project.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Paul Levy

Comments
This latrine improvement project will provide enough capacity to meet the sanitation needs of the school and significantly reduce the incidence of disease among the students.

The strong involvement of the community and the school, and the included educational and monitoring component will ensure sustainability.

Dollar Amount of Project
$500.00

Donations Collected to Date
$20.00

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
$480.00