Six Senses

Nearly 3/4 of the 12 neighborhoods in Dassa have a shortage of latrines, while in 5 of these neighborhoods latrines are rare. Thus, public defecation is the norm in certain areas.

This project is to construct 25 pit latrines for low-income families in the community.

The project will serve 500 people.

The project is being carried out under the technical direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Brigitte Pohren, working in partnership with DCAM/Bethesda, a leading NGO for hygiene and sanitation in Benin.

Project funds will be used to purchase the materials. Labor and some materials, including sand, will be provided by the families that benefit from the project.

Participating families will begin by digging 1-meter-diameter holes, with a 4-meter target depth. A mason coordinating the project will purchase the supplies and oversee the digging of the pits. Cement bricks and cement covers will be made and put in place. Actual construction will be done by the team, moving from one neighborhood to the next.

Informational sessions are a part of the project, and will include the importance of using latrines, latrine maintenance, and proper handwashing practices.

The project offers a solution to the sanitation crisis plaguing certain zones of the community. The plan to install sanitary facilities was community initiated as a means to achieve better hygiene and a satisfactory standard of living. It will greatly contribute to the long-term health of the community and improvement in the living environment of the villagers.

The participation of Water Charity in this project has now been funded, through the generosity of Six Senses Resorts & Spas as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.

Any donations using the Donate button below will go toward additional water and sanitation projects in Benin.

The project is under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer and Engineer Gabriel Miller, as part of a larger plan for a comprehensive water system for the entire community.

The village of Los Uveros is located in the mountains of the Cordillera Septentrional in the Dominican Republic. The community suffers from a lack of potable water, and its inhabitants often have to walk long distances to obtain water, which is usually contaminated.

Residents experience severe illness resulting from poor water quality. For several years this community has been struggling to obtain clean water and has solicited the Peace Corps and other organizations for help with their cause.

Gabriel has worked extensively with the community to do a comprehensive assessment, and develop plans for developing a clean reliable water source.

A water committee has been formed and is in the process of being trained. The committee has shown remarkable motivation and commitment. The community has already been able to raise over a thousand dollars on their own. To ensure sustainability, the families have begun to collect user fees as a reserve for needed maintenance.

There are 110 people living in 42 houses who will be served by this project.

Project funds will be used to purchase materials, including rebar, wire mesh, cement, sand, gravel, wire, aluminum lids, plywood, tarp, paint and plumbing fixtures.

The construction of this tank will take 5 days to complete, and is beginning at once. In conjunction with providing a key component for the water system in Los Uveros, the construction of the tank will be used to train Haitian workers on the construction of inexpensive ferro-cement tanks.

To indicate your desire for your contribution to be allocated toward this project, please click the Donate button below.

Six Senses Resorts & Spas has graciously offered to provide matching funds for donations contributed for this project.

We acknowledge the generous donation of $1,000 from Henry Polgar, Dunfries, VA, USA, with the dedication:

This donation is made on behalf of the Panamerican-Panafrican Assoc (Japan office) and is inspired by the work of Tim McFarren who has for many years worked on sustainable technologies.

This project has been completed. To read about the conclusion of this project, CLICK HERE.

A local river will provide water for needed irrigation, using a system of cisterns, a motorized pump, and movable piping.

This project is being carried out under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Christine Remein.

Sitchope Cooperative is located in the village of Kologan on the outskirts of the county of Agou, Togo. The cooperative decided to use sustainable agricultural practices in their planting and irrigation, and settled upon a method of agroforestry that will provide for their needs while maintaining the quality of the soil.

Community members are primarily cultivators. The village suffers from deforestation and poor soil quality. As population increases, rainfall and farmable land decrease. Despite daily efforts of the community members, particularly women, to feed their families, malnutrition is a reality.

The cooperative has thus far prepared for the cisterns that will be installed, bought cement for the cisterns, and also planted the tree nursery. In the weeks to come they will build the cisterns, tend to the tree nursery, and buy piping for the irrigation.

Project funds will be used for the purchase and transportation of seeds and the construction of the irrigation system. The community will provide the labor for the project.

This project will benefit a community of 1,000 people.

A sustainable system of agriculture is invaluable to the beneficiaries of this project. Their livelihood depends on their capacity and ability to yield food from their farms and also make a profit. The system makes good use of the available water, as it closes the nutrient cycle of the soil.

This project has now been funded, through the generosity of Six Senses Resorts & Spas as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.

Any donations using the Donate button below will go toward additional water and sanitation projects in Togo.

The population to be served is a portion of the 3,000 people who live and work in Central America’s largest landfill, the Guatemala City Garbage Dump. These people spend long days sorting through trash to find and sell recyclable items. They have formed communities on top of layers of trash, with tin walls and roofs housing an average of eight people per household.

Within these homes there is a general lack of running water and hygienic practices, leading to frequent health problems including intestinal infections, parasites, and amoebas among others.

Many only receive water for a couple of hours in the morning or night, where it is stored in a barrel for up to 24 hours. The water is exposed to bacteria and other microorganisms, making it harmful to the health of children and families when consumed.

Safe Passage’s mission is to create opportunities and foster dignity through the power of education. Their program currently serves over 500 children and nearly 300 families.

Water Charity intervened in May of 2009 with the goal of improving the health of families participating in Safe Passage’s programs. Under the direction of Liz Love, who heads up the Adult Literacy program, we provided 46 water filters from Ecofiltro to 42 Adult Literacy homes, as well as one small filter for the Literacy classroom and three large filters, one for the Early Education Center and two for the main Reinforcement Building.

These filters, along with one workshop on the use of the filter and good hygiene practices, have reduced the frequency of diarrhea and other intestinal problems in the target families. In addition, there have been many reports of higher consumption of water and satisfaction with the water quality.

Building on the success of the pilot project for water filters, along with Safe Passage’s desire to support more of the families participating in its programs, this project provides the opportunity to extend access to clean water to additional families.

The Adult Literacy program continues to grow, now including a new Men’s Evening Class and many new students. This project is to provide 35 additional Ecofiltro ceramic water filters to serve 280 persons in this new and unserved group.

Additionally, Safe Passage will provide training on installation and maintenance of the filters, along with general hygiene and nutrition, to each family.

Water Charity holds to the model of following up successful high-impact projects, more of the same. The first filter project more than met our expectations in terms of the numbers served, the compliance in continued use of the filters, and the resultant reduction of waterborne illness. The recipients were, and continue to be, very appreciative, noting the obvious decrease of illness within their families. We are grateful for the opportunity to be able to expand the concept to an additional group of people as part of the integrated services being provided by Safe Passage.

This project has now been fully funded, through the generosity of Six Senses Resorts & Spas as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.

We are particularly appreciative of the support by Six Senses for our projects in Guatemala during these trying times in the wake of the volcanic eruption and flooding. Any donations using the Donate button below will go toward additional water and sanitation projects for the families at the Guatemala City Garbage Dump, which have been particularly devastated by this tragedy.

The system consists of a groundwater pump and two water storage towers powered by an array of solar panels. The system includes a pump-serviced livestock-watering trough in the adjacent vicinity of the complex. In addition, there are 17 taps located in various places throughout the town.

At present, 14 out of the 17 tap heads are effectively useless, and an important pipe and the livestock-watering trough are broken beyond repair and cannot be turned off. The perpetually-flowing components create vast puddles of standing water which serve as a fertile environment for mosquito breeding.

Since the water supply is often exhausted, the water quality of the tap water is poor due to rust build-up, and few people drink from the solar pump system. The people have resorted to the use of the use of unsanitary uncovered wells in the vicinity, causing diarrhea, giardia, dysentery and worms in the community.

This project is to rebuild the broken solar pump-to-tap system by replacing the damaged taps with new lockable tap heads and repairing broken pipes and the broken livestock-watering trough. It will be administered by Peace Corps Volunteer Zac Mason.

The Water Committee will organize a system of assigning the keys to certain community members to make sure that only responsible adults can draw tap water, and they will implement a monthly payment system, to collect money for maintenance.

The Committee will pay for the transportation of the materials from Bamako to the village of Sanadougou. They will hire a local plumber to assemble the parts and a local blacksmith to weld the necessary pieces together. The Committee will also raise money from the villagers to help with the purchase of the new heads.

This project serves a town of 4,000 people. Repairing the existing system is an extremely cost-effective solution to the critical needs of the community. It is certain to result in a reduction of morbidity and mortality in the community caused by unsafe water.

This project has now been fully funded, through the generosity of Six Senses Resorts & Spas as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.

We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and your contribution will go toward Part 3 of this project.

Ndvwabangeni is, by Swazi standards, a very large community located in the northern Hhohho region of Swaziland. It is situated in an area between the Matsamo border post and a small town called Buhleni.

This project is to construct a scoop dam as a means to alleviate the water shortage. The dam will be located in a central area in the community where it is possible for families to start their own gardens next to the dam. The project is being carried out under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Melissa Lin.

At present, during the dry season, local water sources are not sufficient to support the community. The stream that will supply the dam runs year round, thereby providing the community with a constant source of water. This water will be used for gardening, farming, and other everyday needs.

The community members who initiated and are involved in the project are the members of the Ndvwabangeni Inner Council. They form the community’s local traditional government. As the local representatives they hold a great amount of power to mobilize people to carry out and complete projects.

The community will provide all the labor, tools, and transportation of materials for the building of the dam. A government organization has donated the use of its bulldozer for the project.

Project funds will be used to purchase the materials to construct the dam and put in the piping, a tap, a concrete wall, and fencing to protect the water supply.

Funds will be collected from the community to be used for future repairs, thus ensuring sustainability.

965 people will directly benefit from this project. It provides not only a water source, but also impacts directly on the issues of malnutrition and food security.

This project has now been fully funded, through the generosity of Six Senses Resorts & Spas as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.

We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Melissa Lin of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Melissa and/or those of her counterpart PCVs in Swaziland.

According to the 2008 Botswana AIDS Impact Survey, the Boteti Sub-District has an HIV Prevalence of 14.6%. A recent report by the Rakops Primary Hospital stated that there are 1,520 active HIV positive patients registered in the village hospital and clinic.

For people living with HIV and participating in antiretroviral therapy (ART), personal care and positive living are obvious requirements to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

There does not exist a local source of nutritious vegetables, as the nearest grocery store is two hours away. Furthermore, those in need do not usually have the resources or time to tend their own gardens.

The Leretlhabetse Support Group (LSG) is a community group that serves those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. They have identified a key objective of serving the People Living with HIV (PLHIVs) community with cost-free vegetables as an immediate means to prevent suffering and death in the community. They have further recognized that educating beneficiaries on proper food preparation is essential to maintain the nutritional value of the crops raised.

This project is to assist the LSG of Rakops, working in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture and Peace Corps Volunteer Alexandria Price, to implement a vegetable garden and vegetable preparation class for PLHIVs.

A plot of land has already been acquired, and the total commitment and support of the community has been achieved. The initial crops to be raised will include rape, choumoellier, onion, tomato, carrots, cabbage, beetroot, spinach, green peppers and garlic.

The Vegetable Garden will provide nutritious food to PLHIVs, LSG members, and home-based care patients. The project is sustainable, in that 20% of vegetables will be sold, with the proceeds used for the maintenance of the garden.

As part of a larger community effort, Water Charity is participating in the project by providing for the irrigation of the garden and the toilet facilities. Included are a 5,000 liter plastic tank for the collection of rainwater, piping, and fixtures.

The project contains the key elements of gardening training, the actual implementation of the garden, and food preparation training. This will assist PLHIVs and caregivers in maintaining healthy lifestyles. Accessible to over 1,500 people, and delivering services to about 70 people at a time as needed, it is an extremely cost-effective means for serving a critical need in the community.

This project has now been fully funded, through the generosity of Six Senses Resorts & Spas as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.

We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Alexandria Price of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Alexandria and/or those of her counterpart PCVs in Botswana.

Soak-away pits can play a significant role in malaria prevention by eliminating the standing water that creates an environment for the proliferation of infected mosquitoes.

The project will be implemented under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Andrew Head.

Very few bathrooms in the community currently have soak-away pits. This leads to waste water accumulation and the pollution of public spaces. The sewage problem is intensified during the rainy season, which means that the project must be done before the rains come.

One way to prevent malaria is to reduce mosquito populations by removing breeding grounds. By digging the pit you allow the excess waste water to sink into the ground instead of polluting the surface.

Once the pit is dug and filled with stones, the mosquitoes can’t get to the water to breed, therefore eliminating or reducing the threat of malaria.

The project will promote the construction of soak-away pits by building one in the home of each participating junior high school student. Over a period of several weeks students will find stones, and then build the pits.

For construction of the pits, the students will measure sticks that are about three feet long. Then they will essentially make a three foot cube (three across by three wide by three deep). The pits are then filled with what are called cooking stones and then a pipe is run from the water drainage spot to the pit. The rocks are then covered with plastic or sack material and the dirt placed back on top. Ideally, when finished, the pits should only be seen as a pipe coming from the house and going into the ground. In that way all the water is kept below the surface.

The implementation of this project will allow the students to create a drama which will educate the community on malaria prevention. They will also engage in a competition for which the best-constructed pits will be recognized and prizes will be awarded.

Funds for the project will be used to purchase the materials for the building of the soak–away pits.

Over 50 pits will be built, serving a population of at least 300. In addition, other villagers who see the results of the project and learn the technology will copy the process and build many more pits.

This project has now been fully funded, through the generosity of Six Senses Resorts & Spas as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.

We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Andrew Head of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Andrew and/or those of his counterpart PCVs in Ghana.

This project has been completed. To read about the conclusion of this project, CLICK HERE.

The Moringa tree, commonly know as the “Miracle Tree”, is seen to be an important tool to help combat malnutrition. Its leaves are extremely high in nutritional value, and almost every part can be used for food or for some other beneficial use. The seeds can be used to filter pollutants from water to make it potable.

The cultivation of the Moringa tree also plays a very important role in the management of land and the control of the water cycle. Reforestation reduces the erosion that pollutes waterways. The root structure of the trees helps preserve the moisture in the soil, and aids in building a clean ground water supply.

Due to a lack of financial means and the arid climate, the northern part of Togo suffers the most acute problem of malnutrition throughout the country.

This project is to start a Moringa tree plantation in a small village in the Savannah region of Togo. The objective is to introduce Moringa leaves and powder into the local market on a grand scale, and ultimately to alleviate the acute malnutrition that is common to the region.

Mango and Leucena trees will be grown alongside the Moringa trees, in an effort to aid in the reforestation in the region, and for additional nutritional diversity.

In addition, a literacy program will be undertaken as a subsidiary project, with profits from the sale of Moringa trees used to fund an annual training program.

By starting a Moringa plantation, the community will be presented with an affordable option to ensure their dietary needs. The plantation, run by a large number of village women, will become a visible model of what can be accomplished.

Once the trees are planted, women will be trained to manage the distribution and business side of the plantation. The business will function as a nonprofit organization, with all revenues returning back to the community.

Project funds will be used to purchase all the seeds, tools, and supplies necessary to start the plantation.

The community will contribute to the project by providing the labor necessary to get the plantation underway.

The project will be managed by two local trainers, with the active participation of 100 village women.

Once the harvest begins, the women will be responsible for directly transporting the leaves to the market for sale.

Direct beneficiaries will be the women participants and their families, totalling over 600 people. In addition, there will be the indirect benefit to the people in the local communities, numbering in the thousands, in making available the significant dietary benefit of the Moringa tree, and thereby impacting on malnutrition.

The plantation will be a stepping stone to the widespread use of Moringa. The education in the use of the moringa in the family diet, the business training, and the literary program, serve together as a tremendous opportunity for the empowerment of local women.

Upon approval of this project, William immediately reported:

I just got a chance to go to our regional capital today to make the preliminary purchases for our nursery. The women in my village are ready to work.

This excellent project fits directly within the Water Charity model in that we were able to be instrumental in getting a well-planned project underway at once. It will have impact far beyond the financial amount needed to start the project in its impact on the public health of the region.

This project has now been fully funded, through the generosity of Six Senses Resorts & Spas as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.

We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer William Vu of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by William and/or those of his counterpart PCVs in Togo.

The project is being carried out in Coxjac, Totonicapan, Guatemala, under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Casey Kittredge.

The latrines will be used by all three groups of students who use the school (elementary, middle school and a weekend middle school program) for a total of 240 students and 12 teachers. The current bathrooms have been deemed unsanitary by the Department of Health due to their proximity to the area where the atol, the morning snack, is prepared for the elementary students.

The walls will be built using filled recycled plastic bottles, covered with concrete. Project funds will be used to purchase materials, including rebar, cement, sand, gravel, wire, chicken wire, wood planks, and corrugated metal sheets.

The community will provide all manual labor during the construction of the latrines.

Planning meetings have taken place with the Mayor, the community, school personnel, and parents. The work will be coordinated by a committee that has been formed. After construction, the committee will be responsible for the ongoing maintenance.

This project has been fully funded through the generosity of Six Senses Resorts & Spas as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.

We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Kasey Kittredge of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Kasey and/or those of her counterpart PCVs in Guatemala.