This project is made possible through the partnership of WATER CHARITY and the NATIONAL PEACE CORPS ASSOCIATION. 
Location
Frumușica, Florești, Republic of Moldova
Community Description
Frumușica is a small village in the district of Florești, in Northern Moldova. The village consists of around 900 locals, the majority of them being children or the elderly. It is very common for early-20s to late-50s adults to work and live abroad, sending home money for their children and elderly parents.
The village consists of an Eastern Orthodox church, the mayor’s office/post office, the sector police station, the clubhouse, a pharmacy, a kindergarten, a small clinic, a handful of small convenience stores, and the local high school.
Frumușica High School is the home to 157 students and 31 school employees from 6 neighboring villages including Frumușica, Căinarii Vechi, Scăieni, Izvoare, Trifanești, and Alexandrovca. The students range from grades 1st – 12th with ages 7 – 18 years old. It is the biggest school in the area and plays a vital part in the community.
Problem Addressed
There has been a high number of cases of hepatitis A, along with diarrhea, among the students and staff at the high school. This is due to the fact that the school lacks access to clean, filtered, and consistent running water.
With unstable running water, they cannot consistently wash their hands, use the restrooms, cook, prepare meals, or even clean efficiently – which ultimately halts their progress toward a healthier lifestyle.
From observations, surveys and open discussion, students stated when the water is low or abruptly stops running, which it often does (no water for a week out of a month), they cannot use the sinks to wash their hands before meals or after using the restroom. In fact, they are forced to use unsanitary outdoor toilets.
The cooking staff cannot properly prepare meals for the primary school and the high school students and staff without running water. They are forced to go to the nearby uncovered well which is a 3-5-minute walk.
The cleaning staff, all over the age of 50, have to fetch buckets of water from the wells throughout the day to clean and maintain the school. The service staff mentions that during the cold season, water is used to fill the heating system throughout the school, and without water, the school does not sufficiently heat up.
The school had its own water well system. However, in 1995 the well dried up and the school had to find an alternative water source. The school brought water from other wells in cleaning tanks and stored them in large barrels. This did not meet the sanitary and health requirements.
In 2014, Frumuşica High School tried another alternate source for water. However, they ran into the same problems, with the prices being extremely high and constant interruptions.
Without running water, there is a high risk of spreading transmittable diseases, especially if the students and staff cannot wash their hands properly, use the restroom appropriately, and prepare or eat a meal at school correctly.
In the Florești area, there have been outbreaks of hepatitis A. According to the public medical center, the 11 villages sector (including Frumușica, Trifanești, Izvoare, Scăieni, Căinari Vechi, Alexandrovca) have a total of 176 registered cases of hepatitis (A, B, C) with 21 of them being children. The total registered cases of hepatitis (A, B, C) in Frumușica is 34, with 5 of them children.
Project Description
This project is to build a well to provide for the water needs of the school.
The well is designed to connect to the school waterline and provide water to the cafeteria, sinks, indoor restrooms and faucets. The school will use a water pump, generator, and water filtration system to provide clean, filtered running water.
The school director, groundskeepers and some of the men in the community will help with the purchasing of the materials and the construction of the well.
Water Charity funds will be used to purchase the necessary materials to dig, clean and build the well, and to compensate those who work on the construction and installation of the project.
The community will contribute 25% of the overall project budget, paying for gas, electricity, transportation, transportation rentals, and work.
Project Impact
188 people will benefit from the project.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Aana Barabas
Monitoring and Maintenance
The school’s groundskeepers and maintenance team will be responsible for monitoring and maintaining the water pump and pipes. As they will be involved with the construction and installation of the well, they will have the knowledge to properly replace or fix any problems that arise. The school and parent association will replace the water filter, every 3 to 5 years as needed.
Comments
With the construction of this well and access to clean, reliable water, the students and staff at Frumuşica High School will have several benefits, namely:
1. The renovated sinks can be used for handwashing on a regular basis.
2. The indoor restrooms will be available and in use for the students and staff.
3. The school cafeteria can operate and serve lunch to the students in a hygienic manner.
4. The cleaning staff can clean in sanitary comfort with an adequate supply of water.
5. The school can properly be heated during the cold season with the water-fueled heating system.
6. The students will have a reliable and consistent source of pure drinking water.
7. The female students and staff can safely and comfortably use the restroom facility during their menstrual cycle.
Let Girls Learn
This is an official Let Girls Learn project, being implemented pursuant to the partnership between the Office of the First Lady and the Peace Corps.
It is important to note that 55% of the students are girls and 77% of the school employees are women. The lack of water greatly affects the female population, especially those who are of menstruating age. Most females feel so uncomfortable with the unsanitary conditions that they stay home from school or go home early.
As part of the project, the health teachers and health club have all already conducted a menstrual/reproductive health seminar and invited all the female students in grades 4th-12th, along with the staff members.
Fundraising Target
$1,700
Funds raised in excess of the project amount will be allocated to other projects in the country.
Donations Collected to Date
$1,000
ADOPT THIS PROJECT BY CONTRIBUTING THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF THE PROJECT
Donations of any amount will be appreciated. The full amount will give you “naming rights” if that is something you would like.
Dollar Amount Needed
$700
This project has been completed. To read about the conclusion, CLICK HERE.