This project has been completed under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Clifford Duong.
To read about the beginning of the project, CLICK HERE.
The project was to build three wells and one dam in three neighborhoods.
Clifford reports:
The Anjiro Well and Dam project was finally finished after experiencing a series of issues obstructing the completion of the three wells and dam. Problems included project management, accounting, and communication with each of the three communities.
The issues were finally resolved when the communities worked directly with the Peace Corps volunteer. Once this partnership began, the wells were completed within the timeframe of a month.
Ambilobe Dam (Base)
The dam located at the base of Ambilobe summit was the first to be completed successfully and without any issues. This was partly due to the fact that the community insisted on being partly responsible for the materials and in direct control of the financial resources needed for materials.The water at the base of the dam has been in use for half a year and the community is proud to be the first of the four to finish its project without any issues.
“We decided that we would be responsible for the budget and also we, as a community, invested in materials in addition to the available funds so we had direct ownership and investment in this dam. We really needed a source of clean water and were prepared to contribute to finish it timely and successfully.” – Mister Julien, Ambilobe, community member.
Ambilobe (Summit)
The well located at the top of the summit in Ambilobe was partially built in 2012 and never completed. With the help of the neighborhood leader, Mister Dede and his family, final materials including bricks, cement, tin, and rope were finally gathered by the community and purchased at the local market.Within two weeks, the well was finally completed to the surprise and excitement of the community.
“This is exactly what we were imagining when we requested a well for our community. Thank you so much!” –Mister Dede
Mahatsinjo
The well at Mahatsinjo was partially completed in 2012 and never completed. A 12-meter hole was built and water was never found back in early 2012.After a period of slight discouragement, the community reluctantly paired up with the Peace Corps volunteer and decided to take ownership of building the well. This included completely changing the location of the well, supplying bricks to line the hole of well, and gathering wood to construct the door.
Within two weeks, similar to the well in Ambilobe (summit), the well at Mahatsinjo was completed. The community was ecstatic that they finally had access to clean water.
In addition, members of this community, who prior to this well, had no experience building wells, are now skilled at well construction. In fact, neighboring communities have praised the well at Mahatsinjo as being the best looking one!
Ambatomitsangana (Antanetibe well replacement)
Unfortunately, due to issues regarding land, and the project management of this well, Antanetibe’s well was not successfully completed. Antanetibe’s well’s funds were then moved by the prior direction to “Ankilotra”, a location located about 4 kilometers away from the volunteer’s residence deep in the valleys of the mountains of Anjiro.Unfortunately, Ankilotra’s well was also not successfully completed. What remains of the well in Ankilotra is a dried-up hole and wasted wood and tin for an unfinished house.
As a result of the series of unfortunate circumstances, it was decided by the volunteer to move the last well’s location to the volunteer’s neighborhood, Ambatomitsangana.
Ambatomitsangana has a population of about 100 people, living in about 20 households. Access to a pump is available. However, water from the pump due to its far distance from the main water basin at the center of the village, is erratic and unreliable.
Luckily, one of the households in Ambatomitsangana had already begun construction of a community well in its front yard. The completion of this family’s well was eventually decided by the volunteer to be the perfect location for the last well.
The volunteer worked with the family to secure community ownership of the well and within one week of strenuous brick gathering and well-house construction by a dedicated team of four leaders from four different households, the well at Ambatomitsangana was finally completed.
“We will remember you in the years to come with this well. Thank you!”
We are extremely grateful to Clifford for persisting with this project and seeing it through to completion, despite the adversity. In its design, it was one of the most ambitious projects undertaken with Water Charity funding. The outcome is admirable.
We also wish to again thank AquaBio Environmental Technologies, the Elmo Foundation, and Clifford’s friends and family for providing the funds for this project, and other projects in Madagascar.
