Appropriate Projects

The project was to improve and deepen an existing well, and also dig a new well in another location.

Katherine reports:

Both wells are completed.

The 12-year-old pulling water at the new well is named Fatou Kore Kamera, and she is only one of the women who are overjoyed to have a well so close to their compounds.

The old well was deepened and repaired as well. The well was patched on the inside, and built up with concrete to keep out the dirty runoff water.

We are grateful to Katherine for completing this great project to the benefit of the entire community. We again extend our heartfelt thanks to Six Senses Resorts & Spas for providing the funding for this successful project.

Community Description
Lake Bayano is a man-made lake in Panama Este, created in 1979 to supply water power to a hydroelectric plant that supplies Panama City and the surrounding provinces with electricity.

The great majority of the land surrounding Bayano was reserved to relocate the native American settlements that had to be flooded to create the lake. The lake has become the natural habitat of hundreds of bird and animal species, including some that are found in very few locations in the world.

Lake Bayano now provides a major source of income for its native American residents who harvest tilapia fish for sale locally and to foreign markets.

Pueblo Nuevo de Bayano, located on the Southern Shore of Lake Bayano, is a tiny rural community of 180 fisherman and their families. The primary revenue-generating activities in this isolated community are fishing, agriculture, and more recently tourism.

A large rustic natural cave is located alongside the community. Adventure travelers are beginning to find out about these caves and come in small numbers. Tourism is the new focus in the community to stimulate the town's tiny economy.

A small primary school (32 students, 2 teachers) is located in Pueblo Nuevo. Other than that there are no social services (medical, government agencies, NGOs, or shopping) available due to the isolation of this community.

There is no electricity. Water is supplied by a decaying community aqueduct that has leaking and broken tubing.

There are currently no bathroom facilities for tourists to use when visiting the community attractions. Also, one family of 5 has no toilet facilities, and currently uses the lake.

Project Description
This project is to replace old and decaying tubing in the community's aqueduct system.

In addition, two latrines will be built. The first will be for arriving tourists. The second will be for the family currently without facilities.

Project funds will be used to cover the costs of materials, supplies, fuel and transportation. Labor will be provided by the community.

Project Impact
All 180 members of the community will directly benefit from this project.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Donald DeAngelis

Comments
This project provides a consistent source of water to the community. It also improves hygiene and sanitation, reducing illness. Finally, it impacts on the financial viability of the village by creating and maintaining jobs and businesses.

Dollar Amount of Project
$500.00

Donations Collected to Date
$100.00

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
$400.00

Community Description
Mbour is a city in the Thiès Region of Senegal. It lies on the Petite Côte, approximately eighty kilometers south of Dakar.

The community of Louly Ngogom, located 15 km East of Mbour, on the route nationale, is a Serer village of 500 people.

The village does not have electricity or running water. All water is supplied by four communal wells. The water table is about 10 meters deep.

Main income sources are farming, artisanal work, and government positions. Families live in compounds, having up to 40 people in each.

There is a primary school, a church, a health hut, and a kindergarten.

There are four wells currently supplying Louly Ngogom, located in central areas throughout the village. They provide the water for drinking, cooking, and showering. They were all covered with iron well covers in 2006. However, the covers have all rusted through and are disintegrating, thus contaminating the water.

Two of the covers have been removed entirely, exposing the wells to debris (such as waste, dust, and animals).

Project Description
This project will provide proper cement covers on all the wells throughout the village. The new covers will protect the wells from contamination.

Each cover will have a small opening for water-pulling, thereby protecting the well from exposure from debris.

The project is being led by the Water Sanitation Committee, and will be carried out by local stonemasons.

Project Impact
Over 500 communiy members will benefit from the project.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Sarah Sprague

Comments
This project will provide safe drinking water for the entire community by properly protecting the wells from contamination. For a small amount of money, the existing resources will be upgraded to ensure that proper hygienic standards are met.

Dollar Amount of Project
$300.00

Donations Collected to Date
$300.00

Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 - This project has now been fully funded, through the generosity of Six Senses Resorts & Spas as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.

We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Sarah Sprague of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Sarah and/or those of her counterpart PCVs in Senegal.

Community Description
Machinga District is located in the Southern Region of Malawi.

Namandanje Health Center (NHC) provides primary medical care to 3,756 households situated along Machinga District’s Namandanje River.

NHC currently has only one water tower, which does not satisfy its current water demand. NHC’s four main blocks, Outpatient, Nutrition, HIV, and Maternity, experience frequent water shortages.

The Maternity Ward is particularly hard hit, experiencing water shortages during about a fifth of its 90 monthly live births. These shortages delay the equipment sterilization process.

Additionally, guardians staying at the ward’s nearby shelter do not have running water for their own use or to attend to the needs of about 100 people per month who are quartered there. The time spent in fetching water reduces the amount of time the guardians can spend supporting expectant and new mothers.

Last year, NHC administrators bought a 5,000 liter reserve water tank. However, due to inadequate funds, they have been unable to erect the tank and connect it to the main pump.

Project Description
This project is to install the water storage tank at the health center and make it functional.

NHC’s administrators and plumber have identified the parts needed to erect and connect the tank. NHC’s mechanics have welded a four-meter-high metal support tower. NHC’s ground laborers have dug holes to connect the main pump to the reserve water tank.

Equipment will be purchased with project funds, including five bags of Portland cement and one roll of six-centimeter diameter plastic pipe.

NHC’s ground laborers will collect the requisite sand and water to mix concrete. When these materials arrive, NHC’s plumber and ground laborers will erect the reserve water tower and connect it to the main pump, Maternity Ward, and Guardian Shelter.

Project Impact
Approximately 3,360 people per year will benefit from this project.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Ben Nebo

Comments
This project will enable the delivery of water for crucial use in the health clinic. For a small monetary amount, resources already on hand will be put to use, with the immediate result of improved hygiene and reduction of disease.

Dollar Amount of Project
$500.00

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
$500.00