Location
Melitopol, Melitopolskyi Raion, Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine
Community Description
Melitopol is a city of 160,000 people, the second largest city in the Zaporizhia Oblast, and located in South Eastern Ukraine. The city was founded in 1784 by a decree of Empress Catherine II. As part of the Soviet Union, the city quickly became a major center of trade revolving around the engineering and cast iron industries. The city is also a major train transit center to Crimea.
Since the fall of the USSR, the city’s previously thriving industry has declined. Government funding for different local infrastructure, maintenance and rebuilding
projects has fallen. Consequently, many buildings are in a state of disrepair or are in the processes of decay. One of the biggest challenges facing the city has to do with the poor state of the water supply and sanitation systems.
The Melitopol Cultural Center is an important element of the community. Melitopolians go to the Cultural Center often to attend the Movie Club, to see plays performed at the theatre located there, and to participate in a multitude of other activities ranging from sewing to the showcasing of art by different cultural groups in the community. The Center was constructed in 1928 and many aspects of the buildings structure need to be repaired, but the most pressing issue has to do with the bathrooms.
Currently, the only bathroom is in a nightmarish condition. The bathroom has three squat toilets in poor condition, one of which is completely covered with a metal cover and another of which is nearly inoperable due to water flooding out of it when it is used. The pipe leading to one toilet partially leaks as well. A rusted metal separator is the only element that can provide privacy. Thousands of people use these bathrooms every week and they present a sanitation hazard and threaten the ability of the Cultural Center to provide activities for the community.
Currently, the bathroom has no sinks, and people do not wash their hands after using the toilet. This is unsanitary, and presents a risk of gastrointestinal illness.
Project Description
This project is to purchase and install 3 new squat toilets and two sinks for handwashing. In addition, a leaking pipe in the bathroom will be repaired.
The charitable foundation Ridne Misto Melitopol will lead the project. Community participation is an integral part. Ridne Misto will provide volunteers with plumbing experience from their organization and the local administration will also provide water experts.
Community members will provide manual labor to move the materials. The Melitopol City Council will see to the maintenance of the new bathroom facilities and ensure the sustainability of the project.
The first stage involves the plumbers removing the old broken squat toilet structures. The second stage will involve fixing the leaking pipe by replacing the broken part of the pipe structure. The third stage will be the installation of the three new squat toilets by the plumbing experts. The final stage will be the construction of the two new sinks where the old ones used to be located.
Project funds will be used to purchase the three new squat toilets, a new pipe and two new sinks. The remainder of the funds will be used to pay for the professional labor on the project.
Project Impact
The project will improve sanitary conditions at the Cultural Center for 1,000 individuals per year as well as for the 20 staff that work there.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
William Toerpe
Comments
This is a critical project to provide for the health and well-being of the hundreds of people who attend activities at the center each day.
Dollar Amount of Project
$555.00
Donations Collected to Date
$555.00
Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has been fully funded through the generosity of The Soneva SLOW LIFE Trust as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.
We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer William Toerpe of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by William 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.