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.

Dxxxxxxxx, Thies Region, Senegal

Community Description
The community is located in the Thies region in Western Senegal. The population is roughly equal parts Pulaar-speaking individuals and Wolof speakers. It has been able to secure vital resources such as running water from a spigot, a paved national road, numerous fields for farming, and 5 shops in which people are able to buy basic necessities. Locally grown vegetables are the village’s chief income source. The population cultivates several fields of carrots, cabbage, turnips, peanuts, mangoes, onions, bitter tomatoes, and peppers.

The community also has a primary school to educate their young children–who account for about half of the population. The entire population is led by three chiefs who intervene when issues arise, hold meetings to make the village aware of new projects or problems arising within the village, and represent the village at various events. The village is continually seeking ways to improve the quality of life for its citizens through community-led initiatives such as this latrine project.

Problem Addressed
There are a total of five compounds in the village which do not have access to a proper latrine. Members of these households resort to open defecation, which leads to sanitation-related diseases such as diarrhea, pneumonia, and cholera.

A baseline survey to investigate the health practices in the community revealed that at least 25% of children under 5 had diarrhea in any two-week span. Similarly, 53% of respondents said that children were very likely to have pneumonia. These illnesses can be easily avoided with access to proper latrines and the adoption of proper hygiene practices. Seven percent of respondents stated that they believed that open defecation did not have any negative consequences.

Project Description
This project is to build 5 latrines in the remaining 5 compounds in the community that currently do not have access to proper sanitation.

The work will progress as follows:

1. The latrine committee and the PCV will call on participating households to begin digging the pits.

2. The head mason and the PCV will return to the vendors with whom prices were negotiated and buy all the materials and transport them to the village.

3. The sand supplier will bring the necessary sand.

4. The brickmakers will begin making bricks to line the pits.

5. Once the bricks are dry, the mason will continue with the rest of the construction and latrine installation.

a. Each latrine requires digging two pits, each with a dimension of 2x2x2 meters, lined with cement bricks and covered with a slab. This design ensures durability so that the latrines will be able to serve a typical household over a long period of time.

b. These latrines will not require a superstructure or any kind of toilet seat. Instead, each slab will have a small hole on the top that can be covered when not in use.

6. Every day, members of the latrine committee will visit each worksite to oversee construction.

7. Once finished, the local nurse will conduct follow-up home visits to ensure people are practicing proper handwashing techniques and that handwashing stations are available in each household. Solar lanterns will be distributed to participants.

Project Impact
Fifty people will benefit from the project.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Keifer Winn

Monitoring and Maintenance
A latrine committee has been created to help supervise the project. The committee consists of four community leaders who will check up on laborers’ daily progress. They will also ensure that participating households are held accountable, contributing necessary funds and attending behavior change training.

One of these training will cover latrine maintenance, ensuring that households will extend a latrine’s lifespan to its fullest potential and improve community health.

Counterparts will also conduct monthly home visits to guarantee that all household members are using and maintaining the latrine and as well as practicing proper handwashing.

Fundraising Target
$700

Funds raised in excess of the project amount will be allocated to other projects in the country.

Donations Collected to Date
$10

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
$690