Chamwino Secondary School Water Project – Tanzania

This project is made possible through the partnership of WATER CHARITY and the NATIONAL PEACE CORPS ASSOCIATION.

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

Location
Ikulu, Chamwino District, Dodoma Region, Tanzania

Community Description
This project is located at a secondary school, which offers forms one through six. The surrounding village community consists of small-plot farmers. A variety of vegetables are grown in the area. It is a very dry region. The rainy season is January through March or April.

The school itself is in the midst of rapid change. The student population has increased from 570 in 2016, to 982 today, thus the need to increase the freshwater storage capacity.

Problem Addressed
The limited freshwater storage capacity at Chamwino Secondary School presents a problem. There is a water tap on the school campus, where water flows only three to four days a week during the dry season. The students have to take time to walk long distances carrying water in buckets, nearly two kilometers one way.

At present, there is enough storage space to hold enough water for one day to use if the tap is dry. Last dry season, the tap was dry for a day and a half, requiring the carrying of water in buckets.

Project Description
This project at Chamwino Secondary School is to install five 5,000-liter, plastic, rust-free tanks to catch fresh rainwater and function as additional storage capacity.

The project will nearly double the storage capacity from 28,000 liters to 53,000 liters, giving the school water for 2 days.

The carpenter will install gutters to direct the water into the tanks. The tanks will be located at the boys’ and girls’ dormitories, science laboratories, and kitchen.

Water Charity funds will be used to purchase the tanks, gutters, fittings (such as elbows, “T” fittings, and couplings), and nails. In addition, the funds will pay for the cost of transportation, as well as the platforms for tanks to sit.

The project committee headed by Mr. Masawe will retain the carpenter and oversee the construction from beginning to end. He will also take responsibility to purchase materials and for their transport.

The community is providing for aiding material purchases and labor costs. The project committee with Mr. Masawe supervision is working closely with the community.

The Mshikamana community organization will collect money from the community and donate time to help the carpenter.

Project Impact
1,048 people will benefit from the project, including 982 students, 50 teachers, plus teachers’ families living on campus and other staff.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Lincoln Law, serving his 3rd tour as a Peace Corps Volunteer, and a member of the National Peace Corps Association and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Los Angeles.

Monitoring and Maintenance
The school board has embraced this project as a needed addition to the school. All upkeep and future repairs will be paid for from the school budget. Any emergency will be taken care of using school emergency funds.

Project Funding
Although the funds to get this project underway have been provided by an anonymous donor, we continue to accept donations so that we will have funds on hand for the next project in Tanzania Please use this Donate button, and your donation will be attributed to this project and the Peace Corps Volunteer will be notified.

Conclusion of Chamwino Secondary School Water Project – Tanzania

This project has been completed under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Lincoln Law. To read about the start of the project, CLICK HERE.

   

The project was designed to install a rainwater catchment system, including five 5,000-liter water storage tanks, at the school.

Lincoln reports:

The project is complete. Five 5,000-liter tanks have been installed at Chamwino Secondary School. This project completion increased to nearly double the water collection and storage capacity at the school. This eliminates the need for students to have to take time from their studies to walk over a kilometer each way to fetch water.

The project itself consisted of building five cement block foundations and installing the tanks, and attaching gutters to the male and female dormitories and two science class rooms. The water collected and stored will improve the sanitation and health conditions at the school.

The climate at the school among teaching staff, administration, students and other staff is one of increased pride. Everyone at the school and throughout the village, all the way to the Village Secretary, have been heard expressing appreciation and thanks for the project.

Thank you from Chamwino Secondary School and community.

We extend our gratitude to Lincoln for completing this important project.