Mampatim Middle School Well Project – Senegal

Location
Mampatim, Kolda District, Senegal

Community Description
Mampatim is a medium-sized town of 3,080 people, located in the southern part of Sénégal in the region of Kolda, about 67 kilometers from the district capital of Kolda.

The people of Mampatim have about 470 compounds. Due to the growing population, there is an insufficient amount of water for basic hygiene, hydration, and gardening.

Work consists mainly of farming. However there are a great number of boutique owners and restaurant women located all along the main road.

Mampatim has three primary schools, one elementary school, and one 6eme middle school. Mampatim is a thriving town with services for eight rural villages nearby.

Mampatim is completely blocked off from water sources due to the dried up river nearby and the broken water tower. The water table differs 15 meters from the beginning of the town to the end, sloping east to west toward the dried up river. Between late November and early June of each year, the water table decreases significantly and many wells located at the top of the slope often run dry.

This is a specific problem for the Mampatim Middle School, as it serves as the only water source for almost 800 people. Although there is 25 meter-deep-well near the school, it is only accessed by the people living in private compounds, and barely meets their needs.

Project Description
This project is to improve the Mampatim Middle School well by digging the existing 25-meter well down an additional 5 meters, and lining the lower portion.

The well is located near the edge of town, inside the front gates of the middle school. It is situated right next to the school garden, which was started in July.

The garden was designed to provide students with vegetables and fruit for a nutrition program. However the crop has dried up and failed due to lack of water.

The well expansion will commence when the current water supply runs dry. Afterward, the additional cement lining will be put in place.

Two local Mampatim well diggers and masons have been identified, and will come to the school to do the work.

Project funds will be used to pay the well diggers, to purchase materials, including cement, rebar and steel wire, and to construct the cement mold for the lining.

The community will provide some of the cement, along with food for the masons and diggers during the project.

Project Impact
The project will benefit the basic hygiene and hydration of about 800 people, including students, faculty members, and local surrounding compounds.

Additionally, the project will benefit the existing school garden, and even the nutritional education of attending students.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Chelsea Moeller

Comments
This is a high-impact project that will provide a critical safe water supply throughout the year for the large school population.

Dollar Amount of Project
$500.00

Donations Collected to Date
$500.00

Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has now been fully funded through the generosity of the Elmo Foundation.

We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Chelsea Moeller of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Chelsea 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.