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Natural Well Development Project - Swaziland
Swaziland is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered on the north, south, and west by South Africa, and on the east by Mozambique. It is a small country, no more than 120 miles from north to south and 80 miles from east to west. The western half is mountainous, and the eastern border with Mozambique and South Africa is dominated by the escarpment of the Lebombo Mountains.
The climate is temperate in the west, but reaches 104 degrees in summer in the lowveld. The rainy season is during the summer, when rainfall may reach 78 inches in the west.
This project is to be done in a community located in the rural, dry lowveld. An extremely high unemployment rate, the highest global rate of HIV/AIDS occurrence, and a recent drought have hindered all development efforts while making progress all the more necessary.
One of the most pressing issues facing community members is lack of clean and reliable sources of water for drinking and sustaining small gardens (often the only reliable source of food for rural Swazi families). Current water supplies are prohibitively expensive to develop and maintain and people are continually dependent upon rain fall.
This project is to convert a local naturally-occurring well into a functioning tap. It is being carried out under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Serena Parcell in collaboration with the community. The project was developed with the help of a local rural water expert, after a series of community-wide meetings.
The community is contributing all of the labor and some of the funds for materials. Total community participation is 33% of the project cost.
This project will provide approximately 1,000 community members, located within a one-mile range of the well, with access to clean water. Thus it will have a tremendously high impact for the money spent.
This project has been funded, through the generosity of Six Senses Resorts & Spas as a major contributor, as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.
Any additional donations using the Donate button below will be used to fund other projects by this PCV and/or other PCVs in this country.
This project has been completed. To read about the concusion, CLICK HERE.
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