Location
Guia, St. Louis Region, Senegal
Community Description
Guia is a town of 6,000 people in the St. Louis region of Northern
Senegal. Its only school is the primary school where 400 children attend yearly. The school itself receives water from a nearby forage (hand-powered water pump). Most of the people in Guia are of the Pulaar ethnic group and speak Pulaar du Nord.
The rivers in Northern Senegal carry much schistosomiasis, a parasitic infection that comes from contaminated water. Improperly constructed latrines and a lack of faucets limit the availability of clean-water systems to the primary school students.
Currently, at the school there are 4 latrines built. However, 3 of them are stopped up, clogged to the point that they can no longer be used.
Project Description
This project is to reconstruct the three latrines that are non-functional at the school.
Current plumbing will be unplugged and removed in all 4 faulty latrines. The waste pit behind the latrines will also be emptied, enlisting the aid of a hired truck to move the waste.
The plumbing will then be repaired by replacing the old pipes with larger ones and reforming the plumbing architecture to prevent the latrines from re-clogging in the future. Additionally, holes will be added to the waste storage structure behind the latrines, and pipes will be installed for ventilation.
Finally, a sink will be installed next to the 4 latrines, a necessity that the school currently lacks. In addition, minor repairs of the structure will be made.
Project funds will be used for materials, such as cement, sand, gravel, and piping, and for labor and transportation.
The work will be headed up by a local mason who is well known in the community. The school will be involved throughout the project, providing input and overseeing the construction.
The project arose out of the involvement and interest of the community and school. The village chief and the principal of the school made the initial proposal.
The project includes training and follow-up regarding the importance of using latrines rather than going to the bathroom in the river. This educational process will ensure that the new facilities will be properly used.
Project Impact
400 students and 13 teachers will benefit from the project.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Paul Levy
Comments
This latrine improvement project will provide enough capacity to meet the sanitation needs of the school and significantly reduce the incidence of disease among the students.
The strong involvement of the community and the school, and the included educational and monitoring component will ensure sustainability.
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 Pierre Levy and friends and family of Peace Corps Volunteer Paul Levy.
We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Paul of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Paul and/or those of other PCVs in Senegal.
This project has been completed. To read about the conclusion of this project, CLICK HERE.