Location
Mbazawana Ward, Umhlabuyalingana Municipality, Kwa Zulu Natal Province, South Africa
Community Description
Mbazwana is located in the northeastern corner of the country, near the Mozambique border, on the Indian Ocean, next to Sodawana Bay, and is a UNESCO site. A rural area, it has a population of about 22,000 people. It is predominately a Black community, and employment is dependent on an under-developed tourist season, government subsidy, and work outside of the community.
The Mbazwana Primary School serves over 1,000 children, grades 1 through 7. It is one of 36 schools in the area.
Problem Addressed
The school has a single spigot that must be used by all of the students for drinking and washing hands. This makes it difficult to accommodate the 1,200 students who lunch all at the same time.
In addition, the kitchen does not have adequate facilities for food preparation and washing the dishes and utensils. Food for the school is prepared in the open-aired ‘kitchen room’ by the 7 cooks. Sometimes they sit outside in front and prepare the ingredients for the porridge or beans or rice that is for the served for the day.
Currently, there is no running water and no drainage system in the kitchen. Food preparers must carry water from the faucet to the kitchen area to cook and clean.
Project Description
This project is to build a handwashing station for the use of the children, and a sink in the kitchen for the staff.
The handwashing station will be used by the children to obtain drinking water and to wash their hands and brush their teeth.
The plan is for a metal trough to be purchased nearby. If that becomes infeasible, the station will be built of concrete.
The trough will have five faucets that are accessible from either side. A center pipe will feed the faucets that sit up in the sink.
For the installation of the faucets, a paid contractor will locate the hardware and supervise the project. Experienced volunteers will do the installation.
The second part of the project is to install a water supply and sink for the kitchen, to be used by staff for cooking and cleaning.
A covered concrete area will be built on the outside of the structure and a sink installed. A Jojo (water tank) will be purchased and installed to supply water for the sink.
Water will be collected from the roof to fill the Jojo, and wastewater will be drained into the surrounding area.
The project is being carried out under the direction of Mr. Linda, the school principal. He has recruited parents and other community people to volunteer the labor.
Water Charity funds will be used to purchase the materials, including the jojo, trough, piping, fixtures, fittings, sink, roofing, and concrete.
Matching funds from a donor and the school district have been pledged. These additional funds will be used toward building the covered and cemented floor eating area.
Project Impact
1,200 learners, 37 teachers, 6 cooks
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Susan Goodson Fatherree
Comments
Susan previously served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Thailand, where she completed the Ban Nongkad School Kitchen Project – Thailand.
Sanitary conditions for the students will be greatly improved with this project. In addition, the staff will have the capacity to prepare food for the students and serve it in a safe and clean environment.
The project accomplishes a tremendous amount with limited funding through thorough planning, full participation, and the use of matching resources.
Dollar Amount of Project
$555.00
Donations Collected to Date
$555.00
Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has been fully funded through the generosity of the Gabriella Ille, of Sugar Grove, IL, and her friends.
We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Susan Goodson Fatherree of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Susan 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.