Location
Karang, Fatick Region, Senegal, West Africa
Community Description
The town of Karang is at the very south of the Fatick region, on the border with The Gambia. It is a town of 11,000 people, with one health post working for the entire population.
Karang has 9 independent neighborhoods, each with its own women’s group, as well as several independent women’s groups that work primarily on vegetable gardens.
The health post is a high-functioning institution with weekly causeries (workshops) on nutrition, maternal health, sexual education, malaria prevention and many other topics.
The health post has a large (60 m2) enclosed plot where they are starting a nutritional garden. They need access to potable water in order to maintain and expand this garden. Although there is access to a tap, it is government-run and cannot be used for anything other than the regular health center activities.
Project Description
This project is to build a cement-lined, capped well at the health center.
The hand-dug well will be approximately 13 meters deep, with a 3-meter diameter. The location for the well has been verified and approved.
The well will be covered by half a cement lid, and have a meter-tall wall around it. A small runoff area will feed into barrels used for storing water.
The water will be drawn by a simple pulley system and then poured into watering cans which will then be used to water the garden and for drinking by the women while they work and come in for trainings.
Two experienced well diggers will begin work at once. Pauline Sene, the head nurse at the health post, will arrange the transportation of the sand and cement to the gardening site. Once all the materials are there, the well constructors will begin cementing and lining the well. On completion of the well itself, they will build and install the well cap and the small runoff area.
Several weekly gardening and nutrition training sessions with the women’s groups in Karang will take place. The main facilitators for these trainings are the head nurse and a health worker.
Water Charity funds will be used to purchase the materials, including cement, metal beams, and sand, and for transport of the materials.
The health post will pay the labor costs, and any additional funds needed to complete the project.
Project Impact
600 women in the women’s groups and 10 staff persons will benefit from the well and participate in the trainings. In addition, 4 families (about 50 people) will benefit directly from the produce generated by the garden.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
William Leborgne
Comments
This project will improve the services that the health center is able to deliver, improve the functioning and effectiveness of the participating women’s groups, improve the health of the community at large, and create an economic opportunity through the sale of the proceeds of the garden.
Dollar Amount of Project
$550.00
Donations Collected to Date
$490.00
Dollar Amount Needed
$60.00 – 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.
