Obodan, Ghana
The goal of this program was to improve the sanitation, protein consumption, education, water, and finances of the villagers. There was ample help provided by the locals which led them to believe they would be able to sustain the facilities after the program with our chapter ended. After training the community on how to sustain the facilities and with the help of surrounding villages, the community was able to maintain the project without the help of our chapter.
When: 2005-2006
Purpose: Built a poultry house capable of housing 1200 chickens (2800 square feet), storage for seed and a refrigerator area for vaccines. To train village members in the proper technique for raising chickens, increase poultry production and consumption, and to provide monetary support for the village. Dr. Akunzule volunteered to educate the community about the brooder house and how to raise and take care of chickens properly.
Obstacles:
- The brooder house designed did not meet the expectations because a viable business plan was not created. The village member managing it has not had formal training or past experience in small business management and he has been unable to create the amount of positive cash flow that was expected.
- The team was able to investigate the problem and make adjustments and create an easier to understand business plan
When: 2008
Purpose: To improve the effectiveness of the brooder house by continuing training, adding additional features, and generating a business plan to make the house profitable /community center
Obstacles: made so that community members, specifically children, could gain better education within community
Outcome: Training Center never finished due to lost communication
Batey Cinco Casas, Dominican Republic
The goal of this program was to improve the health care and sanitation of the Batey Cinco Casas and Batey Santa Rosa communities in the DR. The Batey Cinco Casas trips were focused on building both a roof and an improved septic system for the local Clinic. We worked with Architecture for Humanity-Indianapolis to design the roof for the clinic. The follow-up septic system was to handle the increased waste needs from the Clinic’s success. The locals were advised to repaint the roofing every two years and train on other maintenance. In the second major phase of the DR projects (Batey Santa Rosa), three pit latrines were built. A contract was established so the community would use knowledge gained during our visit to build three more identical latrines. At the end of the project, EWB returned to construct three additional latrines for a total of nine latrines. The latrines were small (but public) and maintained by individual families. The community has been able to use their knowledge of small-latrine construction to maintain the latrines.
When: August 2010 – March 2011
Purpose: To increase operations of an open-air medical clinic by allowing for overnight patients and necessary medical equipment to be installed.
Outcome: Constructed a hurricane-wind designed roof to enclose the medical clinic and provide a climate controlled environment.
Obstacles:
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- Because of the changes in temperature, the paint began peeling, allowing the metal underneath to begin rusting–team suggested clinic to repaint every two years
- Due to the way the roof was implemented, there were large grooves in the concrete below due to drip lines
- The team had a gutter created for them and attached them to the roof after testing/checking the connections and levels and taught the clinic how to maintain this
When: March 2011 – August 2011
Purpose: To increase operations of the medical clinic by increasing waste services.
Outcome: Constructed a septic system within the hospital confines.
Obstacles: The clinic encountered maintenance issues with the septic system.
When: March 2012 – March 2013
Purpose: Improve sanitary conditions in the Batey Santa Rosa community
Outcome: Constructed three single pit Latrines in Batey Santa Rosa and formed a community contract: community will construct three latrines independent of us and then we will return to construct three more. Nine single pit latrines were built in total.
Gomoa, Ghana
We applied for partnership with the community of Gomoa Gyaman in 2012 and was accepted in early spring of 2013. We performed an assessment trip to Gomoa Gyaman from August 16th to 27th, 2013 where it was decided to build latrines to improve sanitation.
When: August 2013 – 2018
Purpose: Improve sanitary conditions in the community
Outcome: We began construction of the latrines in August 2015. As of February 2018 two fully operational 12 stall latrines have been implemented. Travel teams also educated children on the importance of proper sanitation by developing a hand washing manual for the local schools.
Obstacles: There were some problems finding sufficient materials which was overcome by changing the design.
Chaguarloma, Ecuador
We applied for a partnership with the community of Chaguarloma in 2017 and was accepted in the winter of 2018. The goal of this project was to bring clean water to Chagularoma, Ecuador. The project required a water filtration and distribution system, in order to support between 35-40 families 100 liters of water per person per day.
When: December 2017 – July 2022
Purpose: Bring clean drinking water to small community of ~40 homes in rural Ecuador
Outcome: We conducted three assessment trips to Chaguarloma and constructed a spring box. Most of the design for the project was completed, when due to land ownership issues we had to abandon the project
Obstacles:
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- Finding a clean water source that also provided sufficient volume
- Identifying path that would allow the pipe conveyance system to be gravity fed, avoiding the use of any pumps
- COVID-19
- Reaching agreements agreements with landowners to use their water and/or run pipe across their property
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Pasto Calle, Ecuador
We applied for a partnership with the community of Pasto Calle that was granted in summer 2022. The goal of this project was to make improvements to a school that would allow it to be usable by students
When: August 2022 – Present
Purpose: Make structural improvements by adding concrete shear walls, electrical improvements, and design/construct a retaining wall and fence around the perimeter of the site.