Keur Andallah Willane Latrine Project – Senegal

Location
Keur Andallah Willane, Department of Fatick, Region of Kaolack, Senegal

Community Description
Keur Andallah Willane is a small community of about 600 people that is located about 25 kilometers from the nearest major town. The village is mainly composed of the Wolof ethnic group, but there are many Bambara speakers as well.

The village is located in a peanut-farming region of Senegal, with peanut harvesting the primary occupation. There are a few masons in the village, and many of the men work in their own gardens during the dry season to supplement their income and nutrition, but they are still mostly very poor.

The standard housing plan is a compound with three or four huts. One is for the head of the household, and a few others for each of the wives and their children. Almost nobody has a latrine in the village, and children are often seen relieving themselves out behind their compounds in the morning on a compost pile. When the rainy season comes, diseases associated with bacteria are prevalent.

Project Description
This project is to construct twelve latrines throughout the village.

The project has been discussed with all of the household heads in the village. The compounds have been divided into groups so that everyone in the village will have access to at least one of the new latrines.

The villagers have all agreed that they will complete the work on their own. The village chief is responsible for helping secure and transports the necessary construction materials to the village.

Each group will then dig its own latrine during the current dry season, while there is no risk of the ground collapsing. When the compound has demonstrated that it has dug the latrine to the dimensions of 2 meters across by 2 meters deep, it may retrieve its share of the materials from the chief.

A village mason will then construct the sides and cover for the latrine and be appropriately compensated for the work.

Project funds will be used to purchase cement, iron rebar, and wood panels for forming the covers. In addition, they will pay for the compensation of the mason that the village selects, and for transportation of the materials.

When the project is complete, a local health post worker has agreed to give a talk about the advantages of using latrines and the general health of the village, and he will encourage parents to sensitize their children to the importance of using the latrines and hand washing to prevent disease.

Project Impact
Every one of the 600 members of the village will benefit from the project.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Emily Tran

Comments
This is an ambitious and important project that will result in much-improved hygiene and sanitation in the community. It is based on widespread participation by all of the families, and is designed to be sustainable.

Dollar Amount of Project
$ 555.00

Donations Collected to Date
$555.00

Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has now been fully funded, through the generosity of the Elmo Foundation with the help of friends and family of Peace Corps Volunteer Emily Tran.

We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Emily. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by the PCV and/or those of other PCVs in the country of service.

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