Location
Kumba, Southwest Region, Cameroon
Community Description
Kumba is located in the Southwest region, two hours north of Douala.
31 orphans live at Mah Di’s Orphanage, ranging in age from 4 months to 18 years. Many of the children have lost one or both of their parents due to HIV/AIDS. However, fortunately, every child has tested negative for the virus.
Mah Di is the sole provider for these children, and she continuously struggles with orphanage upkeep due to the overbearing cost of raising 31 kids. She is unable to afford many necessities that are required to keep children happy and healthy, thus leaving the orphans susceptible to disease and malnourishment. The orphans are particularly vulnerable to the HIV/AIDS endemic in Africa because of their lack of parental guidance and support.
Problem Addressed
The only water source at the orphanage is a river that is 2 kilometers away from their home. The children must trek along a hilly dirt path to the river several times a day, and sometimes miss school for the sole purpose of collecting water.
Their current water source does not provide clean water for drinking, cooking, and bathing, thus leading to a high level of school absence and an increased risk of disease.
Project Description
This project is to build a system comprised of a well, pump, and storage tank to provide the children with convenient daily access to clean water for drinking, cooking, bathing, and sanitation.
The new well will be dug with a hydraulic drill, allowing water to be accessed from deep within the ground, reducing the chance of the well running dry in the future.
The pump will be an India Mark 2 hand pump, and it will be purchased new in Douala.
The tank will be built of bricks and lined with tile, and will be roughly 1 meter by 1/2 meter.
Surrounding the well, the ground will be leveled and cemented for easy access and water runoff.
The orphanage will maintain and service the water system upon completion.
A Kumba-based NGO, Needs For Children, will contribute partial funding for the project as well as provide training in health, hygiene, and sanitation.
Project Impact
35 people, comprised of 31 children and 4 staff, will benefit from the project.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Layne Anderson
Comments
The increased availability of water will result in a decrease in illness for the residents of the orphanage.
Dollar Amount of Project
$2,288.00
Donations Collected to Date
$170.00
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.
Any contributions in excess of the Dollar Amount of the Project will be allocated to other projects directed by this PCV and/or projects of other PCVs in this country.
Dollar Amount Needed
$2,118.00
This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.