Location
Boyarka, Lisyanski Region, Cherkassky Oblast, Ukraine
Community Description
The village of Boyarka is located on the river Hnili Tikuch about 160 kilometers south of Kiev. It is 120 km west of the oblast center Cherkassy.
The Boyarka Educational Complex is the main educational center for 9 small villages located in the Lysyanski region of Cherkasska Oblast. The villages of Boyarka an
d Chaplinka are the largest of the 9 villages, with 600 and 650 residents, respectively. Altogether, the 9 villages have a combined population of about 2,000 people.
In Boyarka, 40% of inhabitants do not have water in the house and 65% do not have hot water.
The Boyarka Educational Complex has 130 students as well as 16 toddlers who attend the kindergarten. It serves all of the nine surrounding villages. The school has 20 teachers and staff.
The building itself was built at the end of the communist era (completed in September 1991). However, it was completed extremely hastily because of the knowledge that financing was running out. Nowhere is this truer than in the school’s water piping system. The pipes are old and corroded, and the water contains contaminants.
Furthermore, the school currently has only one working toilet, and this is restricted to teachers and staff. This is especially harrowing during the winter months, as children must go to the outhouse, which is about 100 m from the school’s entrance, in order to use the toilet. Temperatures can often drop below -10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit) which is unsafe for children to be exposed to.
Project Description
This project is to renovate and improve a set of bathrooms for the school for the sole use of students.
The separate rooms (one for boys and one for girls) are located on the second floor, and have not been used as bathrooms for over ten years, due to corroded piping and the absence of working toilets.
Approximately 8-10 meters of old piping in will be replaced by a new plastic piping system that will not rust.
The walls will be insulated so as to keep children warmer during the winter.
New toilets will be purchased and installed, along with toilet paper dispensers.
New sinks will be purchased and installed, and hot water will be made available. Soap dispensers and hand drying stations will be installed on the walls.
Finally, a water drinking station will be installed to ensure the students’ hydration during the school day.
In order to ensure that these bathrooms and toilets will be properly used, the Healthy Lifestyles teacher will conduct lessons with the students about hygiene. The lessons will emphasize the importance of washing hands and keeping a sanitary environment.
Project funds will be used for the purchase of new piping, new toilets, and insulation. Other hygiene-related elements (soap, hand dryer) will be paid for by the school.
The majority of the work will be done by school janitors. Five local parents who have some plumbing experience will assist in the project. In addition, some of the older students will help to disassemble the current pipe system.
Project Impact
The project will benefit 130 students plus 16 children of ages 3 to 5.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Jeremy Borovitz
Comments
This project will give the students a safe and clean bathroom, which will serve to ensure a healthier and more hygienic school environment.
Jeremy previously successfully completed the Boyarka Sanitation Project – Ukraine.
Dollar Amount of Project
$555.00
Donations Collected to Date
$555.00
Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has been fully funded, through the generosity of friends and family of Peace Corps Volunteer Jeremy Borovitz.
We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Jeremy of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Jeremy and/or those other PCVs in the country of service.
This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.