$301 to $400

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
Missirah Ouseman, locally known as Ouseman Diay, is a Pulaar village situated 30 kilometers east of Kolda même and two kilometers off the road to Velingara. Founded by Ouseman Balde in 1963, the village has grown to 167 inhabitants with 15 heads of household.

As subsistence farmers, the villagers grow corn, peanuts, sorghum, rice, millet and cowpeas during the rainy season. The crops cultivated sustain the villagers throughout the dry season.

In addition to field crops, a main component of village nutrition is dry season gardening. Women grow vegetables in individual plots encased with bamboo fencing. Most plentiful are tomatoes, jaxatou, peppers, follerey and onions, supplemented by the occasional cultivation of cabbage, lettuce and eggplant.

Currently, women and children haul water from as far as half a kilometer away to water their gardens during the dry season.

A community garden has been established, funded by the community and other funding sources, which will make it more feasible to raise crops all year around.

Project Description
This project is to build a cement-lined well, connected to two cement water basins, inside an enclosed community garden.

The well will be 11 meters deep and double-lined with cement for durability. It will be connected to a cement basin on each side for water storage and increased garden coverage.

Project Impact
This project will directly benefit 167 people in the village of Missirah Ouseman. In addition, 150 people in surrounding villages will have access to the well.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Emily Bachman

Comments
This project will alleviate the burden of hauling water to maintain and irrigate a community garden. It will free up the time of women and children, to enable them to be more productive in work and study, and devote more time to family and group activities.

The garden will improve the diets of villagers, and yield commensurate health benefits, by increasing vegetable production and consumption.

Family and community income will be increased, as villagers will be able to sell surplus vegetables at local weekly markets nearby. This economic opportunity is vital, in an area where there is little other chance for gainful enterprise.

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
Thiabedji is a village of approximately 1,200 people, located about 35 kilometers from Kedougou, the region's capital city. It is considered a center point for about 10 smaller villages nearby, making it quite diverse linguistically and culturally.

While Pular is the main language of Thiabedji, there is a fairly equal mixture of Pular, Malinke, and Bedik spoken in the surrounding villages.

Large-scale fruit farming has become popular in the area. However, there is a shortage of knowldege and experience in the planting and cultivation of fruit trees.

Thiabedji is the home of an ideal example of an orchard. The owner of the farm is an expert in local methods of tree care and orchard management, and has created a network of fruit-tree farmers in the area. The network will allow local tree farmers to come together for trainings and discussions.

Inside the orchard, there are about 60 mango trees of all sizes, about 20 banana plants, and many local fruit trees. It is the ideal site for a demonstration orchard for all those interested in starting or improving their own.

Last year locals from 8 different villages came to the orchard to learn how to graft mango trees. This year, in partnership with local development organizations, trainings in many other categories will be offered.

A year-round source of water is needed to make this fruit tree demonstration site effective in teaching orchard growing techniques to the communities.

Project Description
This project is to construct a well in the middle of the demonstration site. This will allow for trees to be watered all year around, a requirement for some of the technologies that will be taught and demonstrated.

The well will be dug by local diggers to a depth of about 10 meters and will have a cement lining. A manual rope pump will be installed to allow easy access to the water to allow mass watering. The well, being close to the village, will also be a source of water for those nearby.

Project Impact
This project will impact all of Thiabedji and the 10 villages that surround it, thereby helping hundreds of people through increased fruit production, and the resultant health benefits and economic stimulus.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Sheila McAtee

Comments
A demonstration project has the ability to produce results far beyond the immediate effect of a small construction project. Villagers will be able to learn new techniques, apply them in their own orchards, and teach them to others in their communities.

Dollar Amount of Project
$450.00

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
$350.00