2017

The Solar Tap Extension Project is aimed at increasing the supply of water to our village. Currently, there is a solar tap system that serves as the sole source of clean water for the lower basic school and the health center located in between the two villages. This project proposes to increase the capacity of the current water tower by drilling a new borehole adjacent to the current borehole and water tower, and install 5 additional water collection points.

The new borehole will be connected to the existing water tower and attached to the current pipe network by way of an extension of pipe network of 556 meters to reach growing new settlements in the two communities. Completion of this project will provide clean and quality drinking water to 3248 people including 1335 children (boys & girls) under age of 14.

Before devising a plan to make improvements to the current solar tap system the existing water committees supported Peace Corps to design the project. Through the support of the project a joint water committee will be trained on managing water systems, water sanitation, and water systems maintenance to prepare them for the improved and newly installed water systems and overall sustainability.

May - total $4,500.00

$1,500.00 in Memory of Tim Ahrens - Ethiopia | Female Latrine/Water and Sanitation Project /Garden and Nutrition

Currently, the local high school only has one latrine, with four stalls, for the entire population of the 1, 385 female students. This lack of a sufficient latrine facility and water source, for cleaning menstrual pads, is one deterrent for the attendance of female students; as the statistics of this school show, that as the grade level increases, the attendance of female students decrease. The aim of this project is to construct one latrine and one hygienic wash facility for the female students of the high school. The latrine will comprise of eight stalls and a wash facility for the female students to use to wash their menstrual pads and to stay clean if menstrual leakage occurs. The water system installed in the bathroom will also be used as a source for the irrigation of the school garden. In order for the project to be carried out and funded, Peace Corps will work in conjunction with following local bureaus; Education Bureau, Youth Bureau, Agriculture Bureau, Water Bureau, and the High School Administration. Peace Corps, along with the High School Administration, will supervise the construction and maintenance of the latrine. The High School Administrative team will be in charge of fulfillment of continued maintenance.

$1,610.00 - Mongolia | Bike Rack Metal Welding Camp

Our main project idea consists of a two-day camp to teach 10-12 upper-level students at our vocational school how to build bike racks using recycled metals and metal-welding equipment. The mornings will include classes on sustainable development and safety procedures, while the afternoon will involve hands-on practice using building tools and safety equipment. By the end of the two days, the students will have constructed 5 bicycle racks (with space for 100 bicycles) that will be placed at each of our four public schools and the government center.

The project's main aim is to provide tools our community can use to begin making changes to the air pollution problem in our aimag. The community is fastly developing, so involving students from the vocational school who primarily move on to work in blue-collar jobs around Uvurkhangai has aims to equip them with better knowledge to make development more sustainable.

Additionally, we want for members of the community to feel more comfortable using their bicycles to travel to and from school, instead of relying on motorbikes or aged vehicles that emit smoke exhaust. By constructing the bike racks in the four corners and center of the aimag (as well as designing several educational bicycling activities), we hope that bike riding will become a more accessible and sustainable alternative to transportation.

$695.00 - Rwanda | Water Infrastructure and Hygiene Education

Water availability and accessibility are notable issues in Rwanda. Despite national and local efforts, a significant portion of the community lacks access to improved water sources. The proposed project will install a water station (with 2 taps) in our village, building off of existing infrastructure. The community will contribute a large portion of the materials and labor. The extension of water pipes and presence of a new water access point is expected to increase good hygiene practices.

During the construction of the water line and tap, the PCV and counterpart will implement a hygiene education program targeting women and children in the First 1000 Days Program. The 34 maternal and child health Community Health Workers (CHWs) in and nurses employed by the Health Center will be trained on good hygiene practices, specifically focusing on issues affecting pregnant mothers and children. During the 3-month project period, CHWs will meet with all pregnant women in the sector. Overall, the water infrastructure system and education program are intended to improve the hygiene of community members. The project will therefore impact health in Sector.

A secondary aspect of the project will involve teaching young women interested in STEM and water engineering fields who live in the local area. The PCV and water technician will work with the local school to teach girls about basic engineering principles and allow for practical experience in planning a water system.

$695.00 - Madagascar | Classroom Construction: Increasing Girls' Access to Education

My community, with your help on this project, plans to build three new classrooms for the upper-level grades of the middle school. The school currently uses a large classroom split by temporary walls for three of the classes. The three new classrooms will allow the students to have a safe and education enabling environment to learn. The project will improve the learning conditions of currently 100 girls out of 153 students, and is very likely to generate increase of girl's attendance in at school.

Upon completion of the new classrooms, the PCV and counterparts will hold training for both male and female school students to educate them about the importance of gender equity to help them create a happy and harmonious community. Gender equity have been challenged by culture, practices, and living environment on the detriment of girls education and dignity. With the current worn-out classroom, classes have been often canceled because of the poor learning environment and weather conditions.

The community has already come together in the past two years to start the building classrooms with the help of another organization. However, after starting, the other organization disappeared, and the project was unable to continue. The community is eager to get the project going. The community will provide the skilled and experienced laborers and the materials and supplies to help continue the building. This building is planned to be like the others on the compound which have endured for the past 50-plus years.