This project is made possible through the partnership of WATER CHARITY and the NATIONAL PEACE CORPS ASSOCIATION. 
Location
This project summary has been redacted for security reasons to omit the specific project location.
Xxxxxxxx, Kedougou, Senegal
Community Description
Xxxxxxxx is a community of 220-250 people, depending on the season. It is located on the Fongolimbi road on the way to Dimboli. Farming is the main source of income for everyone in the village.
The village is 3.5 – 4 kilometers from one side to the other, with a hill in the middle. It is made up of two halves, Xxxxxxxx Labor and Xxxxxxxx Mawni.
Problem Addressed
The issue that the village is facing is water security in the dry season. When the rains come, the water table around the village is raised very high so there is no problem with wells or the forage drying up, or not having enough water, but during the dry season, the water table lowers to a point where some of the wells dry up and are no longer a reliable source of clean water.
The other issue that presents itself in the dry season is that the forage, while deep enough, requires a motor pump to bring the water into the basin. The system is effective, but expensive because it is a gas-powered system. During the dry season, when it would be needed, a lot of the villagers do not have the funds to maintain constant use of it. So, they end up walking to the other side of the village to use the wells that are deep enough to have water through the dry season.
There is also the issue that the forage system is great, but it is twenty years old and there are days that it is “tired” and has to take a rest, so even if they have the funds there are days where the forage is just not available.
This presents a problem when the next closest source of clean water is a kilometer or more away in either direction. This also eliminates all possibility of dry season vegetable farming, so, in order to have proper nutrition, they have to go to the closest market which is about 20 kilometers away up the mountain.
Project Description
This project is to build a well in an area where water access is cut off in the dry season.
There will be one main well digger and two assistants chosen by the village chief, one from each side of the village.
The dimensions of the well are rough:
-20 meters deep
-1.25 meters across
The mouth of the well and cover will be constructed by a mason from the village as well. The dimensions will be:
-1.25 meters tall
-1.25 meters across
The PCV will be responsible for the purchase and transport of most of the materials, with the village responsible for providing sand and gravel with transportation of all materials once inside the village. Water will also be provided by the village from a nearby water source.
The PCV and the village chief will be responsible for overseeing the construction of the well and mouth of the well by the well digger and mason on a daily basis.
The women’s group will be responsible for the construction of the fence surrounding the well. The dimensions will be 7 meters x 7 meters
The education component will be overseen by the PCV and president of the Women’s Association. The training will be held every other Sunday afternoon for the duration of the well construction. This training will encompass:
-Water treatment and storage
– Hand Washing
– Proper hygiene around and using water
– Water conservation techniques in dry season gardening.
At the end of the training, there will be a demonstration of skills learned and graduation of the course. There will also be a follow-up demonstration about three months later to judge the retention and implementation rate of what was learned.
Project Impact
150 people will benefit from the project.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Ashley Prettyman
Monitoring and Maintenance
The well will be the responsibility of the women’s group to maintain.
Let Girls Learn
Water collecting is primarily a women’s and girl’s responsibility. Having a closer source of water will enable the girls to be on time to school in the morning and have more time in the afternoon to dedicate to their school work. It might also help motivate men and boys to help with the water because it is not as far and it is not as hard to do, which would give the girls more time.
While this is not an official Let Girls Learn project, it carries with it the same attributes, providing for the sanitation and hygiene needs of girls. Therefore, we designate it a Let Girls Learn + project.
This project is part of our ongoing Western Africa Water & Sanitation Program.
Fundraising Target
$1,850
Funds raised in excess of the project amount will be allocated to other projects in the country.
Donations Collected to Date
$0
ADOPT THIS PROJECT BY CONTRIBUTING THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF THE PROJECT
Donations of any amount will be appreciated. The full amount will give you “naming rights” if that is something you would like.
Dollar Amount Needed
$1,850
