This project is made possible through the partnership of WATER CHARITY and the NATIONAL PEACE CORPS ASSOCIATION. 
Location
Bikpandji, Tchangblib, Koutiere, Bapure, and Nakpagnodo in the Dankpen Prefecture, West Kara, Togo
Community Description
The five communities (Bikpandji, Koutiere, Tchangblib, Hakpagnodo, and Bapure) this project will work with are all located in the Dankpen prefecture in the Kara region of Togo. The communities are extremely remote and are often only accessible by motorcycle or bike. The populations of these communities range from just over 500 inhabitants to around 1,500, with agriculture as their primary source of income.
Living with broken pumps for years, communities find themselves in difficult situations with their next nearest water source over 20 km away. Due to strict gender roles in Togo, the task of collecting water falls to women and girls who must walk these distances to fetch water for their families leaving them little time to attend school.
Many communities are forced to drink water from rivers, springs, and, during the hot season when the river and springs go dry, water that has collected on the road. Because the communities are so remote and road conditions so poor, it is difficult for people to reach a clinic or hospital if they become sick.
Problem Addressed
The five pumps to be repaired are either non-working or work poorly, primarily because their parts are over 20 years old. While the communities have tried to make small repairs throughout the years they do not have the funds to make all repairs necessary.
Additionally, many communities find the pumps dry up in the dry season because the water level has fallen throughout the years.
Project Description
This project is to rehabilitate 5 wells in the prefecture.
The depth of the water table ranges from 70 to 120 meters. The work will be done by an experienced team of Togolese mechanics. The repairs involve taking the pump apart, removing the old pieces such as pipes and the head of the pump, and replacing them with new ones. Work will begin in January 2017.
Water Charity funds will be used for parts and materials, the salaries of the mechanics, and the cost of transport to the villages.
Seminars will be conducted on the proper use and maintenance of the pumps, as well as gender equality, food security, and sanitation practices within the community.
Project Impact
5,432 people will benefit from the project.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Paige McKinsey
Monitoring and Maintenance
In order to properly monitor and evaluate the impact of the project, site visits will be made to the villages in March 2017. These will determine how the pumps are being used, how water is stored, and if the water committee is still performing its duties.
This project is sustainable due to the emphasis it places on capacity building and community involvement. Not only will communities receive new pumps, but they will receive the knowledge on how to properly manage and take care of their pump to ensure it’s durability.
Through the efforts taken to raise a 25% community contribution, these communities learn the importance of a village working together for their collective benefit.
Additionally, on the day of installation, the water committee will receive two wrenches for pump maintenance. This project gives communities both the resources and knowledge necessary to ensure sustainability.
Let Girls Learn
Girls in the village have to walk long distances to fetch water, and they did not have time to attend school or struggled to stay in school. While this project is not designated as an official Let Girls Learn project, it works to achieve the same ends. It will help girls in these communities stay in school by saving them hours of time a day they currently spend walking to get water, and thus comes under our LGL+ designation.
Fundraising Target
$6,000
Funds raised in excess of the project amount will be allocated to other projects in the country.
Donations Collected to Date
$0
Dollar Amount Needed
$0 – This project has been funded through the generosity of David Ashby, of Yuba City, CA, U.S.A.
Additional donations will be allocated to other projects in Togo.
