WOMEN HELPING WOMEN, PAYNESVILLE - Voss Foundation...School in the Bernard Farm Community of Paynesville, Liberia. The water system is comprised of a hand-dug well with a manual pump,

VOSS FOUNDATION, WOMEN HELPING WOMEN

WOMEN HELPING WOMEN, PAYNESVILLE

Water Project in L iber ia 2011


AT A GLANCE

In 2011, the Voss Foundation and FACE Africa built a water system at the Hope Mission School in the Bernard Farm Community of Paynesville, Liberia. The water system is comprised of a hand-dug well with a manual pump, a six-compartment latrine and hand-washing station with storage room. Additionally, the project provides for the formation of a Health Club at the school, a WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) Service Management Committee in the community, and the training of three pump mechanics.

Project type: Multi-access-point water system from hand-dug well

Water access points: Manual pump at well, plus latrine and hand-washing facility

Budget: $12,118.71

Date of dedication: December 12, 2011

Funding source: Women Helping Women

Local partners: FACE Africa and Gunii Creek United Development Association (GCUDA)

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LIBERIA

The current state of this West African country is precarious: the fourteen years of civil war that ended in 2003 crippled the economy. Corruption is persistent and business, industry, and education have not fully recovered. Liberia ranked 169 out of 182 countries in the 2009 UNDP Human Development Report index. At least two-thirds of Liberians live on less than $1 a day. (UN Liberia)

Accessing clean water is extremely difficult and disease runs rampant. Only 58% have access to improved water and 37% to sanitation facilities. In rural areas, such as the Bernard Farm Community of Paynesville where our project was implemented, the figures drop to 40% and 19%. (UN Liberia)

As in the rest of Sub- Saharan Africa, Liberian women and girls suffer disproportionately from the lack of access to clean water. From pregnancy and childbirth to infancy, girlhood, puberty, and womanhood, the health of Liberian women is particularly affected by a lack of water, sanitation and hygiene. Furthermore, women and girls spend hours each day carrying water for their families when they could otherwise be in school or earning an income.

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LOCAL PARTNER: FACE AFRICA

FACE Africa is a 501(c)(3) organization founded by Voss Foundation’s 2011 Women Helping Women honoree, Saran Kaba Jones. Born in Monrovia, Liberia, Saran founded FACE Africa in 2009 to implement clean water and sanitation projects when she realized that millions of Liberians suffered from unsafe drinking water and inadequate sanitation.

FACE Africa now works to fund and support sustainable programs that provide access to clean drinking water to communities in Liberia, where three out of four people have no access to safe drinking water. The organization collaborates with local partners to implement various water solutions, such as digging wells, installing hand pumps, training water and sanitation committees, and building communal latrines. Saran and FACE Africa also believe passionately that economic opportunities for women hold the promise for real change in Liberia. Through partnerships with other women’s groups, they empower disadvantaged women through education, skills training, economic opportunities and financial literacy. Since its inception, the organization has completed four clean water and sanitation projects and impacted thousands of individuals.

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”FACE Africa is extremely grateful for the generosity of those donors who funded the

Hope Mission School project through the Voss Foundation. Collaborating with the Voss

Foundation on this water system has increased our capacity to serve even more children

and we hope that this is just the beginning of a fruitful partnership. I am heartened to

think how many lives we have changed with this single well already. On behalf of the

men, women and children whose futures will be changed by the generosity of the Voss

Foundation and all who contributed to the 2011 Women Helping Women campaign,

which made this most vital project a reality, FACE Africa and I thank you!”

Saran K. Jones

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VOSS FOUNDATION, WOMEN HELPING WOMEN 5

PROJECT SUMMARY

Needs Assessment

In April 2011, FACE Africa completed a technical WASH needs assessment at the Hope Mission School in Bernard Farm Community. Results of the assessment showed that there was a serious need for WASH intervention on the Hope Mission School campus.

Project Site

The Hope Mission School is located on an extremely hilly and rocky area. The school’s campus is situated on top of large rocks which made site selection difficult for both the latrines and the well. For this reason, following the needs assessment, an initial well location was identified and secured at the lower slope of the school’s premises, just a short walk from the school campus. However, just before construction began it was determined that it would, in fact, be possible to dig the well directly on the campus site – this would require extra effort but would be worth saving future time for the students and the community fetching clean water once completed.


Community Entry and Participation

Before beginning the project, time was spent building relationships with the community, including the school administrators, students, and local residents, to foster positive feelings towards the project, invite the input of beneficiaries, and engender participation. Expected community contributions were outlined in relation to project implementation, clearly indicating the voluntary services of the school administrators, students and community members.

These processes began during site visits and were highly rewarding, as community members began to fully understand the project, which encouraged community participation. Ultimately, community members were able to become involved in project implementation in an organized and appreciable manner.

Pastor Boniface Diggs and his wife, both founders and principal administrators of the school, were extremely supportive. They provided accommodation onsite for all of the contractors for the duration of the project. It was decided before the project began that it would be most effective to lodge the contractors onsite to save time and money on transportation costs. Mrs. Diggs personally prepared a delicious meal every day for the workers. This created a great sense of ownership on the part of the workers and motivated them to perform at their highest level. In addition to the Liberian contractors employed for the work, some of the young men from the community who work at the Hope Mission School volunteered their time and services.


Throughout construction, community members and passers-by would stop at the site periodically to inquire about the development and progress of the project. When they were updated, they would say “thank God for the school” and pray for God’s blessing for the donors.

When the students returned to campus in September with the project already underway, they were surprised and curious to learn about the construction. When Pastor Diggs explained the project at the first assembly, the students reacted with smiles and loud cheers. Most were especially excited about the latrines and happy that they would no longer have to go to the bushes to relieve themselves, risking embarrassment, injury, snake bites, and other hazards. When they had free time, students would watch the construction and participate as they could.

Once the project implementation was in progress, beneficiaries were formally recruited to prepare to take ownership of the water system upon completion. Ten students were selected to serve as Hygiene Promoters and Peer Educators for the Student Health Club.

Three individuals were selected for pump mechanic training. These individuals were on hand to observe the installation of the hand pump and learned the structural composition of the pump. Four people (2 male and 2 females) were selected to serve on the WASH Service Management Committee (WASH SMC).


Implementation

Digging of the well began at the start of September and within a week, as suspected, large rocks were discovered in the path of the well making the excavation extremely challenging and difficult. The crew had to manually crush the rocks. At one point, a rock expert needed to be consulted. Ultimately, the well was dug to 40 feet, which was determined to be sufficient supply throughout both rainy and dry seasons.

Some challenges in the well-digging were encountered, including heavy rains that slowed down construction and local contractors not having all the appropriate tools, which forced them to do most of the work manually. Digging continued into October.

Once the well had been dug, the walls were smoothed out, and gravel was packed at the base, adding sand and crushed rocks for extra filtration from the ground. Concrete rings (or “culverts”) were used to line the well to provide sufficient structural integrity and prevent collapse. They also prevent unsanitary surface water from entering into the well.

In November, the well was closed, the pumped installed, and the water flushed. At that time, water was flowing freely, chlorinated, and tested for bacteria and contaminants (of which none were found). The latrine structure was erected and plastered, and roof, doors, and squat plates were installed. A hand-washing station was constructed.

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PROJECT DEDICATION

On Monday, December 12, 2011 the water system was dedicated to the school and community, commemorated with a presentation of the keys.

Pastor Diggs opened the dedication ceremony by stating “this project is life-saving for the school and community and we are so thankful to all of our partners and the individuals who made it possible.”

Dr. Brahima D. Kaba, Commissioner at the Liberia Land Commission, stressed the need for government to join its partners in providing clean water for communities throughout Liberia. He said that Liberia has more water resources per capital than any other country in West Africa, but expressed regret that less than 30% of Liberians have access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation.

The Student Health Club performed a skit about the importance of having access to clean drinking water, to great applause.

An elderly woman responsible for cooking and taking care of younger students at the school was ecstatic about the project. She said water was even more important than food, and kept repeating the phrase ”water is life, water is life.”

Dr. Togba- Nah Tipoteh, Chairman of Susukuu, Inc. and a former Liberian Presidential Candidate was one of the many dignitaries in attendance. Dr. Tipoteh thanked the donors and encouraged the students and community to handle the facilities very carefully.

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BUDGET

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ACTION 1: Construction Of Well

Description Quantity Unit Cost Total

Apron Construction 275.95Drill Materials 90Pumps & pipes Afredev hand pump 1 450 450

Pump rods 5 25 125

PVC pipes 5 15 75

Pressure pipes 4” 4 100 400

PVC glues 2 10 200

De-watering Pump rental 7 25 175

Pump jacket 1 75 75

Sub-Total 1500Labor cost 20% of Total materials 372.64Transportation 10% of Total materials cost 186.32Overhead 10% of Total materials cost 186.32

Grand Total for Action 1 $2,608.28


BUDGET

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ACTION 2: Construction Of 2 Institutional Latrines


Foundation Work /profile/layout Materials 26Excavation & earth work 284Septic Tanks Construction Cement blocks 6” (including rise) 1200 0.6 720

Cement for laying blocks 6” 34 9 306

Cement to cast basement 4” thick 12 9 108

Cement to cast Columns 4 9 36

Cement for plastering 8 9 72

Steel rods 1/2” @36’ 14 12 168

Steel rods 1/4” @36’ 4 4 16

Sand rough & smooth 16 30 480

Crushed rocks 1/2” 6 35 210

Wawa 1”x 12” x 14’ 12 5 60

Assorted wire nails 20 0.5 10

Tie wire 2 5 10

Sub-Total 2196


BUDGET

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ACTION 2: Construction Of 2 Institutional Latrines

Description Quantity Unit Cost TotalSlabs 4”, Steel @ 6” o-c both ways Steel rods 1/2” @36’ 24 12 288 Wawa 1”x 12” x 14’ 8 5 40 Timbers 2”x 2” x 14’ for bracing 14 2 28 Timbers 2”x 4” x 14’ for bracing 14 3.19 44.66 Local mats 6 2.5 15 Cement 1:2:2 concrete mix 20 9 180 Sand rough 8 30 240 Crushed rocks 1/4” 12 35 420 Tie wire 2 5 10 Sub-Total 1265.66Superstructures (4” block wall 1:3 mix) Cement blocks 4” 604 0.6 362.4 Cement to lay blocks 26 9 234 Cement to cast linters 2 9 18 Sub-Total 614.4Roof 372.04Plastering walls & exposed foundation 288Plumbing 314Doors 321Painting 198Labor cost 20% of Total materials cost 1175.82Transportation 10% of Total materials cost 587.91Over head 20% of of Total 117.6

Grand Total for Action 2 $ 7,760.43


BUDGET

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ACTION 3: Trainings


Pump Mechanics 100Hygiene Promotion 300

Grand Total for Action 3 $ 400.00

ACTION 4: Supervision


Fuel 30 5 150Project Supervisor $50 per week x 6 weeks 1 50 300Construction Officer $100 per week x 6 weeks 1 100 600Hygiene Promotion Officer $75 per week x 4 weeks 1 75 300

Grand Total for Action 4 $ 1,350.00

Grand Total for Action 1 ,2,3 &4 $12,118.71

*All prices in USD$


”It is a wonderful feeling to know that students at the Hope Mission School and other

community residents now have a reliable source of clean water. And thanks to the latrine,

the students no longer have to resort to the bushes and swamp to relieve themselves.

We are proud of the work our partner GCUDA did to complete the project despite the

many challenges. We are also proud of the contribution from the school and community

members. We could not have completed this project without the support of the Voss

Foundation and we want to thank them for their support. We look forward to working

again with them on many more water and sanitation projects in the future.”

Emmett G. Wilson, FACE Africa, Program Administrator

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Voss Foundation

Bygdøy Allé 17 N-0262 OsloNorwaytel +47 23 13 16 [email protected]

236 W 30th St. 12th FL New York, NY 10001USA tel +1 212 995 [email protected]

www.thevossfoundation.org

Documents

WOMEN HELPING WOMEN, PAYNESVILLE - Voss Foundation...School in the Bernard Farm Community of Paynesville, Liberia. The water system is comprised of a hand-dug well with a manual pump,