Malawi

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

Community Description
Ching'amba village is a rural community located in the central region of Malawi, about 60 km west of Lake Malawi. It is bordered by a wildlife reserve.

The community's income comes mostly from the sale of tobacco and soy. Corn is also produced. During the dry season people who are able to irrigate have small gardens where typically tomato and mustard are grown.

The community has a cylindrical irrigation tank that was donated by an evangelical organization. It has been used to irrigate a community garden.

The tank is made of cement and bricks, 3.5 meters in diameter and 2 meters in depth. It is filled with water by a solar-powered pump.

When the tank was built, the foundation did not settle properly, and leaks developed after one season.

Project Description
This project is to repair the water storage tank, and restore it to functionality for the use of the villagers.

The tank will be repaired by adding a concrete layer. Project funds will be used to pay for a contractor and two skilled laborers. In addition, they will pay for the purchase of ten bags of cement.

Quarry stones (1 ton) and sand (1/2 ton) will be provided by the community. The community has already raised $60 dollars to fund the project.

Project Impact
There are 37 plots of land 10m x 25m in size. Each plot is run by one family from four different villages. A total of 180 people will be served by this project.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Tomas Pickering

Comments
This project will allow for the irrigation of community gardens which are used during the dry season to provide an important source of food and income.

This project follows up on the Gome Borehole Project – Malawi previously completed by PCV Tomas Pickering.

Dollar Amount of Project
$170.00

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
$170.00

Community Description
Gome Village is a rural community bordering Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve in the central region of Malawi. The community's main source of income is from the sale of tobacco and soy beans.

There are up to 540 people in Gome Village and 5 nearby villages who do not have reliable access to clean water. The borehole well that is used by the villages has been broken for the past five months.

Many people have been forced to use shallow wells or nearby streams containing water that is often contaminated. Villagers have experienced increased amounts of sickness due to the poor quality of the water.

Project Description
The borehole pipes will be extended from their current depth of 28 meters to reach the water at a depth of 51 meters. The water is of good quality and will be available year-round. In addition, other pump repairs will be done.

Project funding will be used to buy new parts, including seven 4 m PVC Pipes and six Pump Rods, and materials, including cement.

The project is being coordinated by the Gome Borehole Committee.

A government water maintenance worker inspected the borehole, developed the parts list, and will perform the repairs. He will also teach members of the committee to do future repairs.

Project Impact
There are 540 people in six villages who will benefit from this project.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Tomas Pickering

Comments
This is a high-impact low-cost project that will have a definite and meaningful result. The built-in training element ensures sustainability, as there will be people who will be able to make future repairs.

Dollar Amount of Project
$500.00

Donations Collected to Date
$500.00

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 Tomas Pickering of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Tomas and/or those of his counterpart PCVs in Malawi.

This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.

Community Description
Katima Village is a small rural village in central Malawi. The people are subsistence farmers who grow their food needs and raise some tobacco and soya for their cash needs.

Chitunda Primary School, located in Katima Village, has 625 children who attend from the surrounding villages.

A hand pump borehole well, located on the grounds of Chitunda School, was rendered non-functional 2 years ago when some of the main parts of the pump were stolen. The school has had no money for repairs.

The school is forced to draw water from an unprotected shallow well about 1 mile away.

Project Description
This project is to repair the well on the school grounds.

The District Borehole Technician has done an assessment and will supervise the repair.

Project funds will be used for the parts and for the transport of the supplies.

The school will build handwashing facilities at the outdoor toilets.

With the resumed functionality of the well, the Student Committee for Safe Water club will teach safe water practices and sanitation to the younger students.

Project Impact
730 people will benefit from the project, including 625 students of Chitunda Primary School and 105 people (15 families) in the surrounding area.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Judy Summers

Comments
This project provides a simple remedy to a deplorable situation, lack of water at a primary school. It will have a great impact on hygiene and sanitation, and motivate and enable the school and the community to undertake additional development and educational projects.

This is the 5th project by Peace Corps Volunteer Judy Summers. To read about the others, use the Search box above, and type in “Summers”.

Dollar Amount of Project
$330.00

Donations Collected to Date
$330.00

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 Judy Summers of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Judy and/or those of her counterpart PCVs in Malawi.

This project has been completed. To read about the conclusion of this project, CLICK HERE.