Location
Dabo, Kolda, Senegal
Community Description
Dabo is a town of about 5,000, located 52 km east of Kolda city on the Route Nationale #6.
Dabo Lycee High School opened in 2009 and already has over 600 students. It has experienced a dramatic increase in enrolment each year since its opening, starting with around 200 students, with anticipated expansion to 1,000 students. The school was created because the nearest high schools were at least 30 km away, which meant students had to travel and find homestay families to live with during the school year, which was not feasible for many families.
Dabo Lycee currently has four permanent classrooms, and eight temporary classroom structures made of thatch and bamboo fencing.
Problem Addressed
The school currently has just two latrines, which are designated as to be used for faculty, although students are allowed to use them as well.
Female students find it awkward to use the same latrines as their teachers, and so usually go to nearby houses to use their latrines. Some girls have been known to stay at home during their time of the month as they do not have a designated private latrine area to use at the school.
Project Description
This project is to construct a ventilated pit latrine designated for female students.
The school headmaster and other school administration will be directly involved in the planning and implementation of the project, including managing and supervising the work of the mason.
A mason will be hired to complete the construction using cement and re-bar.
The latrine structure will include 3 stalls, 2 Turkish toilets with ceramic squat pour flush toilets, and a stall for washing/urinating with a drainage hole. The piping to the pit and the ventilation pipe will be made of PVC. The piping to the pit will include a “pan and water trap” and the ventilation pit will have a fly screen.
The walls of the shelter will be constructed using cement bricks and the floor will be solid cement over a reinforcement grid made of rebar. Each stall will be 2 meters by 1.5 meters, side-by-side so the footprint of the construction will be 4.5 meters by 2 meters. The pit will be 3 cubic meters in capacity and will be cement-lined. The doors and roof will be constructed using corrugated aluminum and wood.
Water Charity funds will be used to purchase the materials, including cement, aluminum, rebar, sand, wire, PVC pipe, and brick molds, and to pay for the work of the mason.
The community of Dabo is very motivated, as are the students. They will pay any additional costs necessary to complete the project.
A group of the high school students will be performing a sketch presentation at the local elementary school about hygiene and handwashing.
Project Impact
620 students, including about 200 girls, will benefit from the project.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Sophie Danner
Comments
This is an excellent infrastructure project for the school. It will greatly increase the sanitation capacity of the school, add to the dignity of students and staff, and encourage the girls to remain at school during school hours.
Dollar Amount of Project
$527.95
Donations Collected to Date
$400.00
Dollar Amount Needed
$127.95 – 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.