Clean hands help keep tummies healthy! Peace Corps Timor-Leste Volunteers work with their communities to construct Tippy Tap hand-washing stations.
“This photo was taken in my neighborhood in Mozambique. Junior’s mother had just come from the local pump where she gathered water for drinking, cooking and bathing for her family. Per the traditional African method of water carrying, she had transported the giant jug to her house by placing it steadily on top of her head. Junior bugged his mom to give it a try, so she brought him back to the pump to let him "practice” with a one liter bottle of his own. I caught this shot on the way back to his house. He was so proud to follow in Mom’s footsteps!” -@peacecorps Volunteer Laurie Williams #peacecorps #africa #mozambique #cute #water #culture #kids http://bit.ly/1JrWS53
Cute kids fetching water gathering water is often a social event, even for the little ones :)
“The community had just completed the construction of a solar-powered borehole well, which provided the residents with easy access to clean, safe drinking water. The photo shows two young girls filling their family’s bidong, while a younger sibling tags along.”
Peace Corps Volunteer Builds First Bathroom in Senegal School
Peace Corps Volunteer Karen Chaffraix is working with her community members in Senegal to install the first bathroom facility at a nearby elementary school. The new three-stall facility is complete with running water for hand-washing and will help prevent water contamination and disease through safe and effective waste disposal.
“Continued community participation is essential to the success of the project,” Chaffraix said. “Hopefully those involved will be empowered to undertake future projects and will contribute to improved health and sanitation for all.”
(Source: peacecorps.gov)
1.usa.gov
World Water Day 2014: Rain water collection makes a big difference in Mexico
For my entire career at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency I have focused on storm water management needs, ostensibly for municipalities and local communities: how to harvest rainwater and how to use technology to protect water resources. But instead of working on this smaller scale, I found myself working primarily on a national scale.
Finally, I decided it was time for a big change that focused on small communities.
As I pursued opportunities at EPA to work more directly with local communities, I found I loved that type of work whenever I got a chance to do it. I learned of the Peace Corps Response program and its projects on water resources management and engineering a couple summers ago. The EPA and Peace Corps had an agreement that supported EPA employees working as Peace Corps Response Volunteers so I applied for a rainwater harvesting engineering position in Puebla Mexico. It was exactly what I was looking for and the length of the project was similar to temporary reassignments at EPA. Plus, I could bring my Response Volunteer ground implementation experiences back to EPA.
Peace Corps Volunteer Emily McKeone is working with her community members and local school teachers to bring safe, clean drinking water to three schools in Zambia to improve students’ health and boost school attendance. People in the communities currently travel long distances to get water that frequently comes from unprotected sources like local streams, which often leads to water-borne illnesses and sanitation concerns at school facilities.
By constructing borehole wells, the community’s water sources will be protected from contaminants and safe to drink. The additional water supply will also support school construction projects and enable students and teachers to plant gardens and orchards. The resulting produce will help raise money to maintain the boreholes.
“School attendance by students and teachers will improve from enhanced sanitation and clean drinking water,” said McKeone, who is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has been living and working in Zambia since July 2012. “The schools currently have construction projects that have been delayed due to a lack of water, preventing completion of much needed classrooms, and these boreholes will allow for the completion of those projects.”
(Source: 1.usa.gov)
Almost four months after its arrival, the Play Pump remains the most popular place to be. Not only children from the primary school, but parents and grandparents are often seen chatting at the spigot’s end exchanging gossip while collecting water. After school there is – quite literally – standing room only. Lines form for a chance to hop on and a take a spin. Any able-bodied person cannot walk past without a throng of learners demanding a push.
Peace Corps Volunteer Andrew Hubble recently installed a ‘Play Pump’ water filtration system, which will serve as a reliable source of fresh drinking water for his South African community.
(Source: go.usa.gov)
“Without proper access to clean water, community members often suffer from nutritional deficiencies and waterborne diseases. For millions of people living in developing countries like Togo, these conditions are everyday realities that inhibit their ability to work, pursue an education or raise a family. Access to clean water is not only the basis of reducing poverty and illness; it is the foundation of a productive and fully functioning community.”
- Peace Corps Health Volunteer Danielle Maisano
(Source: 1.usa.gov)
“Access to clean water is a human right and a necessity for good health.” - Peace Corps Volunteer Nicholas Karr
Happy World Water Day!
In this photo, Peace Corps Volunteer Caitrin Martin and children from her Senegalese village celebrate the construction of a well to provide clean drinking water to their community.
Two Volunteers are helping communities across Senegal install 52 water pumps over the course of a year. In August, they began installing the “rope pumps,” which use a simple, appropriate technology that accelerates the process of pulling water out of wells. The pumps also relieve congestion around wells in local villages and give people access to more water.