Conclusion of Zorit Youth Center Water Project – Ukraine

This project has been completed under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Lynae Slinden. To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK HERE.

This project was to provide clean water for drinking and washing hands for the children and teachers of the youth center by bringing water from a pipe in the school yard to the building, and also installing two pedestal sinks.

Lynae reports:

The first project in ZORIT was to provide clean drinking and hand-washing water into the building where the Youth Center is located. It was selected as a priority because it would immediately change the availability of potable water for the children, teachers, and staff.

With the school year approaching it was important to do the digging of the trench for the pipe and installation before children from the after-school program would be present, particularly in the yard crossed by the new pipe.

By shopping at several hardware sources we were able to save a little more than the potential discount at the original store. The savings provided enough extra cash for some unanticipated pipe fittings that were needed once the wall was opened up for laying the indoor piping to and from the sink basins.

Installation of the sinks was a straightforward process with the filter mounted on the wall behind the first sink. The labor for the project was provided by the engineering/maintenance staff as their contribution to the project. There were no serious complications in completing the installation as originally proposed.

Lynae reports on how the project was received:

Dance classes had continued through the summer and it was interesting watching the reactions of the children to indoor plumbing. They were fascinated and excited about running water outside their classroom door. Some of them did not even have indoor plumbing in their homes and they needed to be instructed on how to turn the faucets on and off and to not leave them running or to splash water all over the hall. By the time school started, everything was in place and everyone is enjoying the new water station in the hallway.

As the ground begins to freeze and snow blankets the ground, everyone is appreciating not having to bring water in from the well in the yard. Being able to do this project during the summer is making a huge difference in how we are now using the facility in the fall and winter.

We wish to thank Lynae for carrying out this important project.

We again wish to thank The Soneva SLOW LIFE Trust, with the help of friends and family of Lynae, for providing the funds for this project.