This project has been completed under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Owen Fitzgerald. To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK HERE.
The project was to improve the Socourani well.
Owen reports:
With a lot of hard work, the Socourani Top Well construction is now 100% complete, and the villagers are pulling water from the well as I write this now.
The initial digging of this well to reach the water was a long process using a rope and pulley, excavating one bucket of dirt at a time. Following that work, it was imperative for the well to be braced with Dutch bricks for the entire depth (60 feet total), for the overall safety, sanitation, and longevity of the well.
The villagers of Socourani cast each of the 400 Dutch bricks by hand using a single mold, and then lowered them into the well, placing them one-by-one. Once the bricks had all been placed up to three feet beyond ground level (to protect from dirt, animals and kids falling in!), we constructed the top slab with reinforcing steel to cap off the open well. To ensure that the area surrounding the well would remain clean and intact, we constructed a multi-layered concrete apron with a stone drainage area to prevent the vicinity from becoming a muddy work area.
Being that this is the only operational well in the village of Socourani, the success of completing this project has been paired with great pride from the villagers. It is with great pleasure for me to say that the final product is a safe, sanitary, and reliable water source for generations to come. The villagers of Socourani are very grateful for the work of Water Charity, and the generosity of the donors who make such work possible.
We wish to thank Owen for completing this important project, and again extend our gratitude to the donors for providing the funding.
