This project has been completed under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Alex McHardy. To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK HERE.
The project was to install two indoor toilets at the school.
Alex reports:
The Sofievka Secondary School #1 Bathroom Project has been completed successfully with two beautiful new bathrooms constructed and in use.
As the paint just finished drying, students began using the new sanitary facilities. They are very grateful for not having to run outside now when “nature calls”.
Upon receiving the funds, we proceeded to purchase materials according to the budget we had prepared. My partners for the project were the school secretary and the two building maintenance workers, Sasha and Volodya. They were able to buy plastic tubing, PVC pipes, connectors, electrical components for lighting, ceiling tiles, wall tiles, paint, and caulk in local shops. A trip to the nearby city of Kriviy Rih was necessary for some of the larger items: toilet bowls and tanks, sinks, and faucets.
Sasha and Volodya cleared out two large closets at the ends of the 2nd and 3rd-floor classroom hallways and set to work. The teachers’ bathroom is located on the 1st floor directly below the new bathrooms, so connecting water and sewage to the existing system didn’t pose a major problem. Sasha and Volodya installed ceiling lights, ceiling tiles, light switches, and wall tiles behind where the sinks would be.
They roughed in the plumbing and painted the walls. At this point we were delayed: we decided to wait until students were on spring break to finish, since water to the building would have to be turned off and construction noises would be disruptive to classes.
When spring break arrived, Sasha and Volodya drilled holes in the floors of our bathrooms, threaded water and sewage pipes through them, and connected them to the system. They installed the toilets and sinks, painted the floors, and were finished. The budget we had prepared was followed closely, so, in the end, we finished with just a few dollars to spare.
I have heard many positive comments about the new toilets. The school director said, “The new bathrooms are wonderful, and they were very badly needed. It’s important that the students have decent sanitary facilities and that they learn to use the restroom in a ‘civilized’ way.” Several students, when asked, remarked that the new restrooms were “much, much better” than the old facilities. All of them send a sincere “Thank you” to Appropriate Projects!
We again wish to thank The Soneva SLOW LIFE Trust for providing the funding for this project.
