Location
Barkedji, Linguere Department, Louga Region, Senegal
Community Description
Barkedji is a vibrant community 35 kilometers southeast of the departmental capital, Linguere, in the Louga Region. It is nestled in the semi-arid region of the Sahel in the center of Senegal, and consists of approximately 250 family compounds.
Due to a highly transient community of herders the population estimates range from 2,000 to 4,000 people. The people of Barkedji depend on subsistence farming and small scale animal husbandry to survive.
The Barkedji Kindergarten opened in 2003 after a demand was submitted to the local governance. The school’s 100 students, whose numbers are constantly increasing, are divided into three levels, ages 3-4, ages 4-5, and ages 5-6.
Headmistress, Aminata Sow, along with her three other teachers, use their minimal supplies and a lot of creativity to give lessons in French, Arabic, arts and crafts, singing and physical education.
The school currently has limited access to water, the nearest water tap being 70 meters away. Every day a large bucket is filled, carried to the school and placed in front of the building. The students dip a pot into the bucket to draw both drinking water and water for the bathroom.
Additionally, the school yard is littered with garbage and animal feces. Every year the school constructs a temporary stick fence, but it fails to keep out the blowing garbage and wandering herds of cows, sheep, and donkeys.
Project Description
This project is to construct a water tap at the school and construct a fence around the school.
A trench will be dug from the main pipeline to the school grounds in which to run PVC piping, and a metal water faucet will be installed above ground.
Using the model from a previous project, parents have volunteered to dig the trench to save on costs, paying skilled labor a reduced amount for the actual faucet installation.
The project will also result in the construction of a chain link fence enclosing the school ground. The fence will cover the 160-meter perimeter of the school, standing 1.5 meters high, with a metal post based in cement every four meters.
Volunteers will dig the posts and fasten the chain link. The local metal worker will then install a secure gate.
The parents association will provide volunteers for the project and pay the skilled labor. Project funds will purchase plastic tubing for the water tap, PVC glue, metal water faucet, cement, metal bars, chain link fencing and gas for transportation of the materials.
Subsequently, the local Environmental Agent has agreed to help construct a tree nursery within the protected school grounds. Realizing that the average life of a chain link fence is 5 years, the school will plant trees near the fence, eventually creating a permanent live fence of trees!
Project Impact
The 100 kindergarten students and teachers will directly benefit from this project.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Ann Marie Albright
Comments
A water tap on the school grounds will provide water for drinking and for sanitary needs. The fence will create a healthy environment free from contamination from garbage and excrement.
The project has a large local contribution and has widespread support.
Ann Marie previously successfully completed the Barkedji Sud Primary School Water and Sanitation Project – Senegal.
Dollar Amount of Project
$555.00
Donations Collected to Date
$555.00
Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has now been fully funded through the generosity of The Soneva SLOW LIFE Trust as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative, with the help of friends and family of Peace Corps Volunteer Ann Marie Allbright.
We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Ann Marie of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Ann Marie and/or those other PCVs in the country of service.
This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.