Benin

Community Description
Camaté -Shakaloke is in a beautiful part of Benin with large, tree- and farm-covered hills. It is located in the center of the southern quarter of Benin, about five miles to the northeast of Dassa, the nearest large city.

It can be described as a poor rural West African village. There are two primary revenue-generating activities in Camaté: One is breaking rocks by hand to sell to construction projects and the other is farming.

There are only about 2000 residents, split into two different neighborhoods, and the community is not located within a reasonable walking distance to the nearest large city.

Very few people have water faucets connected to municipal water sources outside of their houses, and even fewer have running water inside their homes. Even those are regularly turned off and not working during the dry season. That leaves the overwhelming majority of residents completely dependent on the water pumps in the village.

There are also many spaces in village where gardens used to thrive, but due to lack of water, residents are forced to abandon those projects.

There are four water pumps interspersed throughout the village, but three are non-functional. Residents are forced to wait in very long lines for the only working pump, especially during the dry season. The burden for water collection falls primarily on young children and women.

Project Description
This project is to repair three non-working pumps in the village.

After the pumps are fixed, the Mayor’s Office will collect a small tax on the water used, and thereafter use the revenue for upkeep, maintenance, and repairs.

The pumps will be fixed by a team of individuals, consisting of one technician and four apprentices, from the Mayor’s Office.

A ceremony will be scheduled by the two Chiefs of the Village upon completion of the project. Information will be disseminated about proper use of the pumps to extend their useful life. In additon, health and safety teqhniques will be taught on such topics as covering open water sources, positioning water drainage to minimize standing, unused water, and keeping water clean enough to drink.

Project funds will be used for the materials to repair the water pumps.

The Village and the Mayor’s Office will provide all of the labor for the project.

Project Impact
2,000 people in the village will gain access to clean, dependable water.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Anthony Uhl

Comments
This project achieves tremendous impact from a small amount of funding, as it utilizes what is in existence, and makes it functional. Clean and continuous water will be available in adequate quantity to serve the needs of the village.

Hours of traveling great distances and standing in line will be saved by having a sufficient number of pumps conveniently located for the needs of the people.

Sustainability has been built into the project, as users will be charged a nominal amount, and the govenmental agency has assumed responsibility for upkeep.

Dollar Amount of Project
$343.74

Donations Collected to Date
$30.00

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
$313.74

Community Description
Pollution from six surrounding communities currently enters the nearby lake. This must be alleviated to clean the lake which provides needed water for the communities.

Project Description
The project will augment awareness of the effects of lake pollution, motivate community members to reduce waste, and implement a plan to remediate the pollution and manage waste in the future.

A 4-month clean-up competition will be established in each village to reduce waste. Funds will be utilized to purchase and transport tools to be distributed to the groups in the three winning villages at the end of the competition.

Funds will be used to purchase seeds and award them to the winning village. This will greatly help the community with erosion control.

Community contribution, amounting to 49% of the project cost, includes labor and tools related to trash collection and consolidation during the competition, and labor for tree planting at the project’s end.

Project Impact
The project is expected to reduce the presence of inorganic waste by 50%.

120 people will be affected by being informed about lake pollution and options for individual waste reduction, and assisting them in implementation.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
S. Chace, PCV

Comments
This project builds upon an existing structure by using groups presently responsible for cleaning public areas. This makes it more probable that the community be left with a sustainable waste management system. Successful strategies can be replicated in other communities.

Dollar Amount of Project
$462.00

Donations Collected to Date
0

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.

Dollar Amount Needed
$462.00