Location
Luhansk, Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine
Community Description
Luhansk is the main city in the Luhansk Oblast, located on the very eastern side of Ukraine. There are approximately 500,000 residents in the city.
Most of the buildings in the center of Luhansk are left from the Soviet era and are in disrepair, particularly those housing social agencies. Few buildings have accommodations for the handicapped, and most toilet facilities are in deplorable condition, far below normally accepted standards for facilities in the United States. The continuing difficult economic climate in Ukraine means that renovation of the facilities for the handicapped is not a top priority.
Pre-School # 42 is a special education school for children, ages 3 to 8, with Down Syndrome. The building in which the school is located is on Челюскинцев Street not far from the center of Luhansk. The facility occupies the first floor of the building and serves approximately 40 children.
The facility is primarily a day school for local children, but the children who come from the Oblast spend weeknights at the school and go home on weekends.
There are five staff members who are paid from government funds, but no money is provided for the maintenance or improvement of the facility. Most of the maintenance is done by the parents of the children and their families.
The only bathroom in the facility is old and in poor condition. Almost all of the water pipes are left over from the Soviet era and leak badly. The tile on the floor is badly worn and cracked as is the tile on the walls. There is only one sink and it is barely able to be fastened to the wall. The pipes and faucets on the sink are cracked and barely functional, and leak constantly. One of the toilets is severely cracked, and the flushing mechanisms on both leak constantly and use excessive water, driving up utility costs.
Project Description
This project is to renovate the bathroom at Preschool #42. The existing sink will be replaced and an additional sink and faucets will be installed. Also, two new toilets will be installed. Finally, the cracked floor and wall tiles also will be replaced.
Project funds will be used for the purchase and delivery of two new sinks with faucets, two toilets suitable for use by the children served by the facility, floor and wall tiles, and pipes and supplies for installation.
The parents of the children in the facility will provide the labor for the repairs. One of the parents is skilled at laying tile and will supervise this work. The plumbing work will be directed and supervised by a plumbing specialist from the municipal service. The service of and monitoring by this specialist is obligatory for any plumbing installation in a special institution and is provided without charge by the local governing body.
Project Impact
This project will benefit 40 children who receive services 5 days a week at the facility, the five staff members, and the parents of the children who work as volunteers.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Wyoming McKenzie
Comments
This project will significantly improve the necessary sanitary facilities for an underserved segment of the population of Luhansk. It will improve accessibility and sanitary conditions. It will provide a feeling of well-being and dignity for those participating in the program.
The success of this project can be expected to lead to continuing improvements in these sanitary facilities and to other areas in the facility needing repair and improvements. It is believed that these improvements will set an example for other service facilities in the area.
Dollar Amount of Project
$555.00
Donations Collected to Date
$25.00
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
$530.00
This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.