Ambodisambalahy and Anjangoveratra Well Improvement Project – Madagascar

Location
Anjangoveratra and Ambodisambalahy, Anjangoveratra commune, SAVA region, northern Madagascar

Community Description
Ambodisambalahy and Anjangoveratra are two towns located in the northeast of Madagascar. Virtually everyone in the area is a subsistence rice farmer. Some also grow vanilla.

About 80% of the population has an elementary school education or less, and there are few job opportunities in the area.

The town of Ambodisambalahy relies on two broken wells for a population of 1,454. Anjangoveratra has a population of about 4,000, of whom about 1,300 rely on the three broken wells that will be improved by this project.

Many of the wells in the commune of Anjangoveratra were built over a decade ago and are in poor shape because the community of subsistence farmers lacks the resources and expertise to maintain existing wells.

A survey of the wells was conducted by community health workers and the Peace Corps Volunteer. Five wells were identified whose water quality or basic infrastructure can be quickly improved with a small amount of financial input.

Project Description
This project is to improve 5 wells in Ambodisambalahy and Anjangoveratra.

Three of the wells that have large breaks in the foundations, allowing dirt and surface water to enter the water supply, will be repaired.

Two of the wells have a deep water table, and are in need of pulleys. This will make it much easier for the children who usually fetch the water to lift the buckets.

Additionally, one of the wells is situated at the bottom of the hill and is inundated by up to a foot of muddy water when it rains. A simple reinforced canal will be built to divert the water.

A builder from a nearby community has been located, and he has agreed to reduce his usual fee by a third because the community will be assisting with digging, locating local materials like sand and gravel, cleaning the well, and transporting materials.

Project funds will be used to purchase materials, including cement, rebar scraps, and 2 pulleys, and also transportation from the city to the commune and wages for the builder.

Construction will be overseen by a local health worker and the head of the women’s organization as well as the Peace Corps Volunteer.

Project Impact
2,754 people will benefit from this project, including 1,454 villagers who use the 2 wells in Ambodisambalahy, and 1,300 who use the 3 wells in Anjangoveratra.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Rowan Braybrook

Comments
This project accomplishes a tremendous amount for a small amount of money. Water will be kept safe and the process of drawing water will be improved in a total of 5 wells. It has widespread community support, thus ensuring sustainability.

Dollar Amount of Project
$154.00

Donations Collected to Date
$154.00

Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has now been fully funded through the generosity of Jennifer McIntosh, of Hanover, MD, USA.

We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Rowan Braybrook of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Rowan and/or those of other PCVs in the country.

This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.