This project is made possible through the partnership of WATER CHARITY and the NATIONAL PEACE CORPS ASSOCIATION. 
Location
Ambatomainty, Amparafaravola district, Alaotra Mangoro region, Toamasina province, Madagascar
Community Description
Ambatomainty is a rural community of about 14,000 people located in the Alaotra Mangoro region, also known as the ‘rice basket’ of Madagascar. Rice farming and animal husbandry are the primary vocations of the Sihanaka people. There are six interconnected villages that share one main market. The community has two public borehole wells and two public open wells, located in the market and at the community hospital, all of which are in need of maintenance. Three of the wells are currently unusable. Many in the community depend on these wells as their primary source of water.
Problem Addressed
There is a lack of access to public clean water sources in Ambatomainty. This forces families to rely on a river that has turned red from mud and erosion. And because of this there is a high prevalence of bacterial diarrheal disease in the community, which is the number one leading cause of death in Madagascar for children under 5 years of age. As the average daily income in Madagascar is around $1 per day, the people of this community do not have the funds to purchase materials to fix public water sources.
Project Description
This project is to renovate four water sources, consisting of two pumps (borehole with a pump on it), and two open wells as set forth below.
Borehole #1 is located in the village of Ambatomainty.
Borehole #2 is located in the village of Amparamanina.
For both boreholes, community members will dig trenches around the pumps to control the flow of water. They will also build a fence around each well to prevent contamination of the water source. Technicians from Ambatondrazaka will replace broken pieces inside the well pipes. Technicians will also train community members on pump maintenance.
Well #1: Community members will hand dig a well in the central market. They will reinforce the well with an inner brick and cement infrastructure. They will also add a cement base and opening to the well, in addition to a wooden well door. The addition of a brick fence will prevent contamination and increase the lifespan. Community members will also construct a metal pulley system to increase accessibility.
Well #2: The second well is located at the hospital. The infrastructure is already in place, but community members will build a metal pulley system over the well to make access easier.
The community has been the driving force behind this project from the beginning, as the project will benefit a large portion of the population. The presidents of the villages and the community health workers have already established water committees at each location who will be responsible for the acquisition, transportation, and storage of materials. The water committees will also inspect the water sources quarterly and collect dues in order to pay for future repairs.
Before the repairs begin, community health workers will educate members of the community about safe water treatment and storage, and diarrheal disease in children under 5 years of age. Village presidents will oversee the preparation and construction of the sites. The technicians will train local water committee members on well repair and maintenance.
BushProof, a Madagascar-based enterprise, specializing in cost-effective water supply technologies for remote areas, will test the wells and verify that they meet all Peace Corps and governmental standards.
Project Impact
Approximately 10,000 local residents will benefit from these repairs.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Katie Micek
Monitoring and Maintenance
The community water committees will be responsible for construction and repair oversight. Once repairs are complete, the committees will be responsible for collecting dues to fix or replace parts in the future, and to inspect the pumps and wells on a quarterly basis.
Comments
This project will provide an ample supply of safe water for the entire community during the entire year.
Fundraising Target
$2,700
Donations Collected to Date
$2,700
Dollar Amount Needed
$0 – This project has been fully funded by friends and family of PCV Katie Micek and an anonymous donor.
Funds raised in excess of the project amount will be allocated to other projects in the country.
This project has been completed. To read about the conclusion, CLICK HERE.
