Location
Messamena, East Region, Cameroon
Community Description
Messamena Village is a small community of under 800 people, nestled deep within the tropical rainforest.
There are vulnerable populations, such as the Baka Pygmies, that have suffered from modern-day slavery by local lumber companies.
Problem Addressed
Hygiene education is severely lacking in the East Region. It is not a habit to wash your hands, let alone with soap. This has led to consistent problems with diarrheal illness, which in turn leads to missed days of school.
A portable handwashing station, made out of an old plastic 250-liter oil barrel, is used at the school, but it is not secure and not regularly used.
Project Description
This project is to build a handwashing station at the public school in Messamena Village.
The sink will be built 20 meters from the latrines, between the two classrooms, and will remain open for use by the community. It will be attached to the wall of the school under the current handwashing mural. It will be 2 meters long, with a basin area of 75 cm, all made out of concrete.
The existing 250-liter barrel will be placed on a table made of 4 by 4’s approximately 2 meters high and the sink will be approximately 1 meter high.
There will be piping from the barrel to the sink that will supply water to 3 spouts.
The station will be built directly over a drainage system made of concrete connected to the school, allowing drainage into the current system and preventing the accumulation of standing water.
The gutters will be made of either PVC piping or metal that is used for roofing, and attached by nails to the wooden roof structure. Water will then be directed to the barrel. In the absence of rain, the barrel will be filled manually.
The work will be done by local technicians who have done previous work with cement in the past.
Water Charity funds will be used to purchase materials, including cement, piping, fixtures, and faucets.
The project will be accompanied by hygiene education, demonstrations, and project by a WASH club of students responsible for demonstrating healthy habits.
Project Impact
150 students and 50 parents will benefit from the project.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Edward Rosenbaum
Comments
This is an important infrastructure project that will improve the health and well-being of students and staff at the school, as well as the community at large.
Dollar Amount of Project
$555.00
Donations Collected to Date
$0.00
ADOPT THIS PROJECT BY CONTRIBUTING THE DOLLAR AMOUNT NEEDED BELOW
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
$555.00
This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.