$501 to $555

Location
Bolduresti Village, Nisporeni District, Republic of Moldova

Community Description
Bolduresti is a rural Moldovan village with just over 4,200 residents. It is located in the Nisporeni District in Western Moldova, right on the Prut River, which forms Moldova's border with Romania. Members of the village are generally hard working and traditional.

The community's economy is heavily based on agriculture, with nearly all of the agricultural operations being small and locally owned. Outside of agriculture the largest employment sectors are local public administration and education.

In 2009 a small group of environmentally-minded citizens in Bolduresti organized an NGO named Ave Terra. They partnered with the local high school to create an ecology club. One of the first activities of the NGO and club was to partner with a French NGO which helped train the involved students on environmentally sustainable ways to live.

As part of this training, the team tested approximately 100 water sources (wells and springs) throughout the community. Unfortunately they found that a majority of the sources were contaminated with various harmful compounds.

One of the main sources of contamination is agricultural, animal, and household wastes being disposed of in the vicinity of the water source. Of the sources tested there is one spring used by 39 different households that has particularly good water. Currently this spring is simply a metal pipe extending from the hillside that creates a muddy pool which tends to attract animals and trash.

Project Description
In order to protect the spring and secure the safety of those families that rely on its water, the ecology club will develop the spring to eliminate exposure to contamination.

With labor donated by skilled community members, and material transportation donated by the local mayor's office, a small trough will be created to contain water from the spring, cover the spring and trough to prevent contamination, install a new pipe, install rock and sand around the spring, and finally pour a small amount of cement to help maintain cleanliness.

Water Charity funds will be used to procure materials with which to improve and protect the spring.

As part of the project the ecology club students will visit each household that relies on the spring to help educate them about the need for maintaining clean water and a clean environment, and teach methods to achieve same. Additionally they will use this project as an example to help promote future education in the community.

Project Impact
110 people will benefit from this project, including those living in households using the well, students, and NGO management.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Curtis Adams and Brittany Hill

Comments
This is an important infrastructure project for the community. It will improve the health and wellbeing of all the residents.

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
$555.0

Location
Jamaly Ganyado, Central River Region, Sami District, The Gambia

Community Description
Jamaly Lower Basic School is home to students from seven villages in the Central River Region of Gambia. One hundred and eighty students from Kindergarten to grade 6 attend the school. The school is located in the central village of Jamaly Ganyado, limiting students’ commutes to under three kilometers. The students are a mix of Fulas and Wolofs and most of the instruction is done in English.

Going to school is a privilege for most students whose families struggle to pay the small fees for tuition, uniforms, and school materials. Most families rely on subsistence farming and not every child in the area is able to attend school due to the cost. Students take their education very seriously; they value learning and study in groups most nights.

The teaching staff at Jamaly Lower Basic is great. They work hard to provide quality education for their students. Often the teachers are at school until dark working on visual aids or helping students. In addition to classes the teachers run a health club, a study club, and a scouts club.

The students and staff work together on a garden where they grow vegetables to add to their lunches. Jamaly Lower Basic is doing very well with the limited amount of resources they have.

The school has one hand pump that is used for drinking water, hand washing, cleaning, and watering the school garden. After school the pump is open for the villagers to come and fetch water for their own households. Unfortunately the pump was constructed in the early nineties and is in need of repair.

While the pump currently works it has broken parts that cause it to break down every few months. When it breaks down the teachers pay to fix it out of money from their paychecks to get it working again. But without being able to replace the expensive broken pieces in the pump it is not long before it is broken again. A breakdown causes the garden to suffer and causes students to miss valuable class time fetching water from the faraway village pumps.

Project Description
This project is to repair the hand pump at Jamaly Lower Basic School.

Under the direction of the Jamaly Lower Basic School and the Jamaly Village Development Committee, the old, broken parts in the hand pump will be replaced so the pump will work like it is new again.

The project will be overseen by the headmaster, Mr. Bohejon. The repair will be done by a trained local man, assisted by members of the community.

Project Impact
180 students and 9 teachers at the school and 1,000 villagers will benefit from the project.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Stephanie Starch

Comments
This project will bring much-needed stability to the school's water needs. It will give the teachers peace of mind and allow both students and teachers to focus on education. By doing a complete overhaul now, the school and the village will avoid breakdowns in the near future, and be able to accumulate funds for long-term maintenance.

Stephanie previously completed the Jamally Ganyado Pump Repair Project – The Gambia.

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

Location
Qacha's Nek, Lesotho

Community Description
Mamolopolli Infirmary and St. Margret's Convent are located in a compound in Qacha's Nek, Lesotho. Mamolopolli Infirmary houses 8 Daughters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Roman Catholic Sisters, 6 of whom are retired and several are living with sickness and disabilities. The retired Sisters have spent their lives dedicated to serving their community as per their mission, though they are unable to move around successfully enough at this time to continue much of that work.

St. Margret Convent has 3 Sisters who work in service of the community. All of these Sisters live in the spirit of service fulfilling roles in the community that aren't desirable to others, such as working to alleviate poverty, caring for the sick, and empowering and building skills for youth.

The Sisters residing on the compound work at local preschools and the local prison, and they are the primary caregivers for the only orphanage in the district's main town. The orphanage provides care, a home, and support for 7 double orphans who are unfortunate causalities of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Lesotho.

The Sisters also run several small model income-generating activities such as sewing school uniforms, some of which are given to double orphans. They also run a successful agricultural project where they sell fruits, vegetables and eggs at reduced cost to local low-income people. The food produced is also used to support the sick and disabled sisters, and the project is used to help teach the orphans and other interested people the skills required for agricultural production.

The Infirmary and the Convent have a very successful rainwater collection system in place. However, groundwater is required on the compound for drinking as well as in times of drought, which is becoming increasingly common in Lesotho as the effects of climate change are being felt.

Project Description
This project is to provide water for the needs of the compound.

An electric pump to draw up the required groundwater from the well will be installed. In addition, a large stone and concrete tank reservoir will be built for storage. Finally, the necessary piping will be installed to connect up the entire system.

The Sisters will first identify the person with the required skills. Next they will find the pump that will meet the needs of the community. They will then obtain concrete, sand, stones and pipe, and build the reservoir tank.

The Sisters will ensure that the pump is compatible with the electrical system, and also the well infrastructure that is in place, and then proceed with the installation of the pump.

The work will be done primarily by the qualified person that is identified, with support from the able bodied Sisters and two Peace Corps Volunteers.

Water Charity funds will be used primarily to buy the electric pump, as this is the most inaccessible part of the project, given the financial situation of the Convent and Infirmary.

The Sisters will finance the balance of the project with a loan, and pay for it over time. The community will contribute by building the reservoir tank and obtaining the necessary supplies and equipment.

Project Impact
The beneficiaries will be the 11 Sisters who reside on the compound, 13- 30 patients per day from within the immediate and surrounding communities served by the nurse, 98 students served by the Early Childhood Care and Development Center (preschool), 74 prisoners to whom they provide socks for the winter and whom they help with life after release, and 16 orphans whom they care for.

Additionally the pump will enable water security for the surrounding community, which is connected to the town's central water supply, which often goes on and off. During the times when it is off, the sisters provide water to the immediately surrounding community of about 30.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Carol McFarland

Comments
Because of the work the Sisters perform in the community, the effects of this project become much greater: It is a project that is caring for the care deliverers.

Especially the orphans, but many others who are cared for by the Sisters’ work will benefit from this water project. Also, the agricultural and sewing projects are important within the community, both for their products, and also because they are good examples of small income-generating activities that are possible and can be replicated.

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

Location
Molodogvardesyk, Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine

Community Description
The town of Molodogvardeysk is situated in the eastern oblast of Luhansk, Ukraine about 15 kilometers from the Ukrainian/Russian border.

Molodogvardeysk was founded in the early 1950's. The town's 25,000 residents are primarily involved with the mining industry in the area, which supports the economy. There are three large mines all within 15 kilometers of the town.

The landscape is one of steppes: the winters are extremely cold and the summers are muggy. There is an open-air market located in the center of town which operates year round. Locals live a simple life and are usually congregating in the market to talk about the latest town news.

Consistent access to water is a major problem for the residents of Molodogvardeysk, as there is no natural water supply in the area. For most of the year the water is only on for six hours every day, three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening. Thus, people are forced to store water in large jugs, stashing them throughout their apartments.

At the three local schools, consistent access to running water for sanitary purposes is a major problem.

Molodogvardeysk School Seven is 56 years old and has 450 students. It has no handwashing facilities for children to wash their hands before eating.

Project Description
This project is to install a water storage tank, handwashing station, and related piping and fixtures at the school.

A 600 liter plastic water tank will be installed in the kitchen of the cafeteria.

PVC piping will be run a distance of 30 yards to a set of new sinks, which will be accessible for the children to wash their hands. The existing drainage system will be used.

A pump will be installed to transport the water from the tank to the sinks.

The school has two older handymen, who are the main plumbers and carpenters, who will make the purchases and perform the installation. Along with the women who work in the school cafeteria, they will also be responsible for continuing maintenance.

Project Impact
450 students, 40 teachers, and 7 staff members will benefit from the project.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Kip Madden

Comments
The project will create the opportunity for students to wash their hands before eating, and thereby prevent the many health problems associated with poor hygiene.

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

Location
Sinchu Jaabo and Kaani Kunda (hamlet), Badibu, CRR-North, Gambia Touba Murit and Naani Kunda, Dankunku, CRR-South, Gambia Choya, Niamina West, CRR-South, Gambia

Community Description
These five communities are composed of poor subsistence coos and peanut farmers. As a transit point from North to South Bank of the Gambia River, Kaani Kunda also has a number of fishermen.

Sinchu Jaabo and Kaani Kunda are predominantly ethnic Mandinka. Touba is mostly Wolof. Naani Kunda and Choya are Fula villages. All of these smaller villages have received little in terms of NGO or government aid with the exception of Mark II handpumps, which were installed in the late 1990's. Sinchu Jaabo's was funded by Saudi Arabia through German NGO GTZ. Two of Kaani Kunda's pumps were installed as part of the Gambian-German Well Project. It is believed that Water Resources put in the rest at Touba, Naani Kunda, and Choya. All have seen little to no servicing. The pump at Choya has been neglected, and serious internal damage to the pump housing has occurred.

Project Description
This project seeks to rehabilitate 7 Mark II Handpumps in 3 districts in Central River Region, The Gambia. They are old and many have corroded and worn out parts.

The parts needing replacement:
Sinchu Jaabo: Handle bearings and axle (1 pump) Kaani Kunda: Handle bearings and axle, chains, new cylinder seals (2 pumps) Touba Murit: Handle bearings and axle, chains, new cylinder seals (1 pump) Naani Kunda: Handle bearings (2 pumps) Choya: Handle bearings and axle, chains, new cylinder seals, new handle and handle casing welds or replacement parts

A previous Water Charity Grant has already supported the initial inspection of these pumps. Some additional parts needed to fix/maintain these pumps have already been purchased, including 2 cylinder repair kits, 1 handle axle, 7 handle bearing kits (bearings are the first thing to break in these Mark II pumps). Hamad Cham, a skilled welder and blacksmith from Sambang, Dankunku, has been dispatched to Choya to assess if the handles and handle casings of Choya's pumps can be fixed.

Project Impact
The beneficiaries of this project are estimated to number 3,130, broken down by community as follows:

Sinchu Jaabo 200
Kaani Kunda 1,000
Touba Murit 700
Naani Kunda 850
Choya 380

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Jeremy Mak, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer.

Comments
Water access is a huge problem, especially with outdated pumps for villages with only a single source of clean drinking water. This project accomplishes a tremendous amount in restoring pumps to effective use with limited resources.

Jeremy previously completed the Dankunku, Fula Kunda, and Brikama Lefaya Pump Project – The Gambia during his service as a Peace Corps Volunteer, and also finished the Niamina Dankunku Area Pump Project - The Gambiaas a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer.

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

Location
Yarkoye, Crimea, Ukraine

Community Description
Yarkoye is a village in Crimea consisting of just over 2,000 people. Many people in the village make a living through what they grow on their farms.

220 students attend Yarkovskaya School from the first to eleventh grade. There are 38 employees at the school, including 24 teachers.

There are 320 parents, including 26 single parents. 23 families of students are large and considered financially disadvantaged.

Last year, the community in Yarkoye completed a mini-project through USAID to improve the drinking water throughout the village. Unfortunately, the water supply to the school is "technical water”, suitable for use for the land and crops, but not for drinking.

The water at the school was tested through a laboratory of the Ministry of Health located in Simferopal. The results showed that the water at the school, used for drinking, food preparation, and handwashing, contains heavy metals and is unsafe.

The pollutants found in the water were as follows:
Enterococci- This is a bacteria that can survive harsh conditions in nature and can be found in soil, water, and plants. They have proven to present a therapeutic challenge because of their resistance to many antimicrobial drugs, including cell-wall active agents; aminoglycosides, penicillin and ampicillin. Health problems that are caused by Enterococci include urinary tract and abdominal infections, wound infections, bacteremia, and endocarditis. Enterococci can cause major health problems because they can acquire such a resistance to multiple antibiotics.

Coliform bacteria- Its presence in water indicates fecal contamination and can cause diarrhea and other dysenteric symptoms.

Escherichia coli (E. coli)- This bacterium is exclusively of fecal origin and their presence is an effective confirmation of fecal contamination. Some strains of E. coli can cause serious illness in humans such as gastroenteritis, urinary tract infections, and neonatal meningitis. It is not so common, but they can also cause hemolytic-uremic syndrome, peritonitis, mastitis, septicemia and Gram-negative pneumonia.

Project Description
This project is to install a water purification system in the cafeteria of Yarkovskaya School.

The filter is a 6-stage reverse osmosis system. The stages are as follows:
Stage 1- This stage provides a sediment filter made of polypropylene to remove dirt, rust and other suspended particles.

Stage 2- Carbon Block Filter Cartridge is used to remove chlorine, and other contaminants of this kind.

Stage 3- This stage is a repetition of the first: the sediment filter is used to remove dirt, rust and other suspended particles.

Stage 4- The thin film reverse osmosis membrane is used to remove 96-99% of dissolved solids, chemicals, mineral scales, and bacteria.

Stage 5- With use of a carbon filter, the water runs through this in-line filter to remove any taste or odor it may have acquired in the storage tank. It absorbs free gas so that it improves the taste of purified water and it also impedes harmful damaging residue of organic substances.

Stage 6- Mineralization: improves purified water by adding minerals such as calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium.

The funds from Appropriate Projects are being used to purchase the main apparatus, plus three purification cartridges for future use.

The parents and faculty of the school will maintain the purification system by providing the funds to change the cartridges twice a year.

Project Impact
220 students, 24 teachers, and 14 other employees will benefit from the project.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Rachel Logsdon

Comments
This is a necessary project for the health and wellbeing of the students and staff. It uses the appropriate technology to purify the water to make it safe to use for drinking and cooking at the school.

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