Six Senses

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.

About a third of the population lives below the international poverty line of $1.25 per day. The main sources of income are subsistence agriculture and cotton.

Bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever are the primary food and waterborne diseases, and malaria and yellow fever are the primary vectorborne diseases in the country.

This project is being implemented in Bagou, a town and arrondissement in the Alibori Department of northeastern Benin.

The project is to construct 50 individual dry-pit latrines for families in the community. Each participant family will contribute the labor to build its own latrine. About 350 people will be served.

The project is being carried out under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Elliot Grochal, together with community delegates.

Project funds from Water Charity and other participants will be used to purchase the materials.

Participants must take part in the accompanying educational component to increase their knowledge about health and hygiene, and thus ensure the success of the project in impacting upon disease.

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.

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

This project will provide latrines for 21 families, comprised of 120 adults and children. It is a natural extension of a project that was begun in 2008 under the direction of a prior Peace Corps Volunteer working in the community. All construction work will be done by local professionals.

Barrio Maria Auxiliadora, Calle San Francisco, Guayaivi, San Pedro, Paraguay, is home to approximately 112 families, comprised of 650 people. While Guarani is the most commonly spoken language, the majority of the community also speaks Spanish.

This hard-working, well-organized community has an elementary and high school, a successful agricultural cooperative, various community groups/committees, two churches, small family shops, and soccer fields.

Most homes have running water and electricity. The principal economic activity is agriculture. Farmers primarily produce fruit, such as bananas and pineapples, and the average family income is about US $5.00 per day.

Although educational opportunities for children have improved, the average adult has only an elementary school education.

Intestinal parasites are one of the most serious health problems in Paraguay, affecting more than 90% of the country’s children, including most people in this community. According to a recent community census, nearly half the families lack a bathroom, and 85% of latrines are unsanitary.

An unsanitary latrine directly contributes to the presence of parasites, through exposed feces and flies that are attracted. This impacts on the entire community, with children more heavily affected.

The project is being implemented by committee participants, who attend regular meetings, organize fundraisers, pay monthly dues, and participate in Peace Corps-organized health classes.

A Paraguayan NGO is contributing 38% of total project costs. To ensure community ownership and sustainability, participants are contributing one third of the cost of materials and labor. The remaining funds for materials are being provided through donor contributions.

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 Michelle Pfister of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Michelle and/or those of her counterpart PCVs in Paraguay.

The biosand filters being used for the project are HydrAid BioSand Filters, manufactured in Michigan. The project includes technology, research, installation, education, maintenance, quality assurance and support through a global network of partners.

The HydrAid system is founded on proven biosand water filter technology that has been effectively used around the world for decades. When properly implemented, it filters out 99.9% of the parasites, bacteria, and viruses from dirty water. It is effective in the control of diarrhea, one of the most deadly waterborne diseases, which is estimated to cause 1.5 million child deaths per year.

The biosand filter utilizes specified layers of gravel and sand of specific grades and sizes. In addition, it is topped by a biological layer which assists in the purification process.

The biosand filter is easy to install, delivers high volumes, requires little maintenance, and produces clean water for up to 10 years.

Water Charity began evaluating and using the technology in specific long-term applications, starting in 2008. When the earthquake struck in Haiti, it became evident that HydrAid filters would be the ideal tool for immediate use in the relief effort, especially in light of the close proximity of Haiti to the US mainland.

Various agencies and organizations came together to develop a plan to produce, deliver, and install HydrAid filters in Haiti. The original HydrAid design was enhanced for disaster relief with additional disinfection technology by Amway engineers. The procedure called for treatment of the water, first with chlorine, and then additional filtration through a carbon filter. An important addition was the inclusion of a receptacle for storing the clean water. The additional disinfection serves a number of purposes, including further reduction of pathogens, elimination of the waiting period before the filter can be used, and reduction of the possibility of re-contamination of the treated water.

Amway teamed up with the Safe Water Team, a West Michigan nonprofit organization, Thirsting to Serve, a Michigan Rotary group, and Triple Quest, a Joint Venture of Cascade Engineering and Windquest Group, to supply HydrAid filter systems to Haitian schools, clinics, and other earthquake victims.

The delivery process got underway when a truckload of 22 skids of HydrAid filters, complete with filter sand, was shipped to Jacksonville, Florida. The U.S. Navy then transported the filters to Haiti. The NGO Pure Water for the World is handling the distribution and installation in Haiti.

Your donation towards this project will be used in its entirety for the purchase of the filters, the ground transportation, and the installation of the filters in Haiti.

Flash:  Every dollar you donate will be matched by Six Senses Resorts & Spas!

The Center for Public Health Preparedness at Loma Linda University has sent a team to assess the needs and deliver emergency relief to the people of Haiti. Dr. Sinclair, Assistant Professor at the Loma Linda School of Public Health, and an expert in water and sanitation, is accompanying the team.

We purchased commercially-available filters and chlorine, and gave them to Dr. Sinclair to take with him.

Urgent and difficult problems demand simple solutions. Using this direct method, we are able to help deliver life-saving filters precisely where they are needed, NOW.

Your donation is urgently requested for this project. 100% of your donation will go to purchase water filters, which are being deployed now. If you are looking for a vehicle to make a donation to the relief effort in Haiti, you will not find a more direct and cost-efficient way to contribute.

Flash:  Every dollar you donate will be matched by Six Senses Resorts & Spas!