Location
Chamama Village, Nkhotakota District, Central Region, Malawi
Community Description
Chamama is the central village in a small cluster of villages in the foothills west of Nchisi Mountain in Nkhotakota. It is over 15 km from the nearest tarmac road, and is in the most remote part of Ailnafe Hospital’s catchment area.
The community is made almost completely of farmers who grow the food they eat and small amounts of cash crops, like groundnuts, to buy necessities like soap, clothes, salt, and cooking oil. The community is very active and is eagerly seeking to develop in health and education.
The community has just started a Community Based Childcare Center (CBCC) to promote early childhood education for children in the village under the age of five.
Problem Addressed
Chamama and the surrounding villages have no access to safe drinking water. The nearest protected water source is over 5 km from the village toward the tarmac road.
Villagers are currently using small holes dug in the sandy banks of a nearby river in order to get water. This water is easily contaminated with waste from livestock and dogs, and leads to high rates of diarrheal diseases, which can lead to extreme health issues and death, especially among the under-five children being served through the new CBCC.
Project Description
This project is to build a well and install a pump to serve the village of Chamama.
A well will be dug in a central location in the village cluster approved by the water committee. In collaboration, with the contractor, the site will be chosen with a high probability of water at a depth of 5-10 meters.
The well will be protected with bricks and cement mortar walls. A cap will then be built, and a Malda Direct Action Pump installed. Finally, a concrete runoff area will be built.
The community has already made 2,000 bricks, and collected 1 ton of sand and one heap of quarry stone.
The community will provide labor and food for the contractor during the implementation of the project.
Water Charity funds will be used to buy 4 bags of cement and the Malda pump, and to pay the trained contractor for his labor.
The Malda pump kit will be bought in Lilongwe (the capital of Malawi) at Kalariah Supply Co. The cement will be purchased at the local trading center in Mkaika.
Transportation of supplies will be donated by Alinafe Hospital.
The skilled labor will be provided by Lloyd, a local contractor. He will be in charge of hand-digging the well, building up the brick cement wall, creating the concrete cap on top of the well, installing the pump, and completing the runoff.
The community will assist in all labor, including mixing cement, helping remove dirt as the well is dug, and lifting parts and equipment.
Project Impact
190 people will have access to safe drinking water for the first time.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Tyler Walton
Comments
This is a vital infrastructure project for the community. The extensive planning and participation demonstrate that the community is totally committed to its success.
Tyler previously completed the Pembera II Well Project – Malawi.
Dollar Amount of Project
$555.00
Donations Collected to Date
$410.00
Dollar Amount Needed
$145.00 – This project has received major funding through the generosity of the Elmo Foundation, with the expectation of additional donations from the friends, family, and supporters of the Peace Corps Volunteer.
We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify the Peace Corps Volunteer of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by the PCV 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.