Ghana

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 planned school project will be of concrete and block, with three open classrooms for the students and staff. In addition, there will be an office and a closable storeroom for supplies.

Our project funds will be used to put raingutters around the building. The water collected from the roof will be directed into a large 3,000 liter plastic tank that is on the site, but is presently unused.

The community will provide labor, sand, gravel and transportation of materials for the project.

This community has exhibited a strong desire to improve the educational facilities that they offer their children and those from surrounding communities.

The Ghana Ministry of Education has reconized the value of this project and indicated its continued support for this level of education in KwakuSae.

For several years, the Kindergarten/Nursery school has operated from meager facilities of mud and sheet metal. With improved facilities, the community leaders will be able to provide for quality education for their own children, and also attract children from surrounding communities.

This project will have direct impact on approximately 600 people.

With great community and school participation, this project will succeed in creating an environment conducive to early childhood education. By joining a larger effort, our contribution, which will lead to a water supply for the children, will have a much greater impact than it could have had as an individual project.

To read a progress report on this project CLICK HERE.

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 Ghana.

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

Currently the beach is used as the latrine. As a result, spots of human excreta can be seen all around the seashores. On any given day, one finds vultures and flies feeding on the human waste, as well as children playing and fishermen working in the same beach area.

Through community meetings the village decided to build two 10- stall latrines, one on each side of the community. This will lead to a sanitary work area for the fishermen and a serene playing area for the children, and will serve to prevent the spread of disease.

The community will construct the latrines, and will provide 56% of the total cost of the project. After completion, the community will charge a small fee for the use of the latrines, and the money collected will go to the maintenance of the facilities.

The project will be directed by Peace Corps Volunteer Amanda Herring, who will ensure that the project is completed on schedule and within budget.

Ghana was the first country in the world to welcome Peace Corps Volunteers, with the first group arriving in 1961. Since that time, more than 3,700 Volunteers have served there.

This project uses technology that is appropriate to the needs of the community. It results in the rapid elimination of a critical public health problem. It demonstrates a technology that can be replicated elsewhere. Finally, the collection of a maintenance fee from the users guarantees sustainability.

This project has been funded, through the generosity of Six Senses Resorts & Spas as the 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 the host country.

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