Project Launch: 5-19-15

Dioulafondou is a rural village in Senegal with a population of 400. This project will provide necessary renovations to the local school, as its water pump and solar panels are no longer working properly. Repairing the solar panel system will provide a stable source of electricity that will allow children to extend their studies into the evening, and a functional water pump will provide the school and community members with access to clean water. Working with World Connect and a local Peace Corps Volunteer, the community will design a system to ensure the pump and solar panels are functioning and serviced sustainably. In addition, a series of sanitation and hygiene workshops will be provided to the community to highlight the importance of clean water and proper hygiene practices.

Project Update

With help from community volunteers and a local technician, the lighting and water systems have been fixed, bringing the community a local source of clean water and stable electricity. Before this project, the school's water pump had been broken for over two years, and although the school had requested repairs, no action was ever made. To ensure sustainability, the school committee is responsible for maintaing and managing the pump and solar panels, and will solicit any repairs in the future. Additionally, the school committee will continue to educate the school and community members through a series of workshops focused on safe water storage and proper sanitation and hygiene practices.

Testimonials

"I submitted a request to the Inspector of Education in Saraya asking him to help repair the pump at the school. I submitted not just one request, but three requests. I was told the first time that they would work on getting it repaired. The second time I got no response. And as for the third time, I realized that depending on help from the Inspector's Office was useless; they was never going to help with the process of getting the pump repaired." - Bakary, Project Leader

"Thank God for the repair of the pump. It takes the women of my household a long time to get water when they have to go to the pump on the other side of the village. The pump at the school is a lot closer to our home and saves them so much more time." - Koly, Project Participant

"When a pump breaks, women and girls, those traditionally responsible for fetching water, must walk further and further in search of a working pump. The women who use to receive their water from the school water pump were forced to travel to the opposite end of the village to receive water from the pump. It was a strain on them, everyone knows it. The agony of fetching water has been relieved. It has improved their lives. Now they can rest. They can save a considerable time and effort. Now, there is much less stress on them about having access to clean drinking water." - Fanta, Project Participant