This project has been completed under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Kara Horowitz.
To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK HERE.
The project was to fix the hand pump at the school.
Kara reports:
The Dingiri Lower Basic School Water Pump Project was completed on Friday, November 29, 2013. The project fixed and updated parts for the water pump at the school. The hand pump had been broken for over a year.
On Saturday, November 16, the project began. A technician came from Badari to assess the damage of the pump rods and the pump itself. A mason was on hand from the village of Dingiri, as was a team of pump repairmen from Basse. Half of the concrete slab was removed so a man could be lowered into the well.
After lowering the man into the well to retrieve the pump, a group of village men were able to take all 12 rods out of the well for inspection. The technician explained that 9 of the rods would need to be replaced but luckily, the pump itself was in good working condition.
After the rods were removed, the mason was able to redo the concrete slabs. He reinforced the other slabs and put concrete around the base of the pump to protect it from shaking and damage. This work lasted from 9 am to about 3 pm.
Once the mason was finished, it was decided the technician would buy the parts in Basse and return with receipts and finish the work. The technician was sent to Basse to collect the appropriate rods and bolts for the well.
The technician returned to Dingiri on Tuesday, November 19 and the rods were put back into the pump. The School Management Committee (SMC) and teachers were on hand to see the pump up and working. The school had a small celebration and Water Charity was thanked profusely for their good work.
The pump has now been up and working for a week. The Headmaster gives his many thanks and many of the SMC were very moved and excited by the working pump.
Children no longer have to carry water to school and each classroom now has a bucket filled with water for drinking. The cooks no longer have to haul water from the village and their work is much easier.
The SMC has begun to tear down the old fence and every child has been asked to bring a large trunk from the bush so the SMC can begin to re-fence the garden.
We are grateful to Kara for completing this project, and again extend our thanks to the Elmo Foundation for providing the major funding.
