This project has been completed under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Hilary Richardson. It was a part of the official Let Girls Learn program, a collaboration between the Office of the First Lady and the Peace Corps, to expand access to education for adolescent girls around the world. Water Charity and the National Peace Corps Association were the first supporters of this program, and continue to be among the largest. It was also a part of our 100 Water Projects Program – Albania.
To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK HERE.
A summary of Hilary’s report is as follows:
The overall scope of the project was to reconstruct a bathroom in a local primary school, as well as promote healthy practices of handwashing to students at the school. Along with these efforts, the project was also used to promote young girls to stay in school when they experience their monthly cycles. The project was also used as an avenue to build trust between the school and local municipal government.
The project was a renovation and reconstruction project. The workers replaced the existing poor infrastructure including: toilets, sinks, flushing mechanisms, and flooring, as well as installed a new water pump for the bathroom. The completion of the project took about 3 months from the receiving of the funds to the handwashing seminar.
Many parents of students at the school were extremely happy that something was being done about the bathrooms. I received many thank yous and well wishes in Albanian, and even had some parents thank me in English. Also, images of the project were shared on various media outlets, including a local radio station with a quote that translates to the following: “Very beautiful work and investments have been made and are being made in Lushnje, but what we see in the picture, is a very good investment, for not just looks but for parents, and improved health and conditions for the place where we educate their children and watch them grow.”
We are grateful to Hilary for completing this excellent project.
