Location
Socourani, Commune of Keme Kafo, Circle of Dioila, Koulikoro Region, Mali
Community Description
Socourani is a small farming village of approximately 425 people located in the Koulikoro Region of Mali. This village is like many other small villages in that it has no electricity or running water, but is unlike many other villages in that it has no school, no mosque, no boutique, and no cell phone reception.
In addition, one thing that sets Socourani apart is its lack of wells, and more importantly, lack of water in the wells. While there are 10 personal wells within the community, every one of them is dry, year round, causing everyone to have to fetch water at the village hand pumps for all water needs.
The villagers have tried deepening their wells in search of water, but the wells have all collapsed, as the people do not have the knowledge or the resources to brace their wells.
Villagers spend a lot of time waiting at the community pump or traveling long distances to neighboring villages’ wells to fetch water for their animals.
The Socourani Deep Well
Project – Mali was recently completed under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Owen Fitzgerald. This involved the digging and bracing of the bottom of this large diameter deep well (nearly 65 ft. deep and 6 ft. in diameter).
Project Description
This project is to improve the well to ensure its safety, sanitation, and longevity.
The upgrades that will be made include the bracing of the walls using Dutch Bricks all the way to a level above the top of the well (3 ft. above the ground so animals/kids don’t fall in), as well as completing a top-well construction, which involves casting a top slab and an apron around the well area.
The project funds will be used for purchasing cement, sand, rebar, tools, transportation of these materials, and the labor of a well technician.
The community will provide all of the labor for casting the Dutch bricks (400 bricks to be cast one-by-one using a brick mold) as well as laying the bricks in the well. In addition, villagers will supply all of the gravel, and transport this gravel to Socourani by donkey cart.
Project Impact
Approximately 300 men, women, and children will be benefit from the improvement of this community deep well.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Owen Fitzgerald
Comments
The improvements will not only strengthen the integrity of the well, but also will greatly improve the safety and sanitation of the well.
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 Patrick Flynn, of Encinitas, CA, USA.
We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Owen Fitzgerald of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Owen and/or those of other PCVs in the country.
This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.