Ghana
Obodan Program Overview
(2006-2008)
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.
Chicken Brooder House
Where: Obodan, Ghana
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
Community IT Center
Where: Obodan, Ghana
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
Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic Program Overview (2010-2013)
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.
Medical Clinic Roof
Where: Batey Cinco Casas, Dominican
Republic
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:
-
- 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 - taught the clinic how to maintain this
- the team had a gutter created for them and attached them to the roof after
- because of the changes in temperature, the paint began peeling, allowing the
Septic System
Where: Batey Cinco Casas, Dominican
Republic
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.
Community
Latrines
Where:
Batey Santa Rosa, Dominican Republic
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.
Ghana
Gomoa Gyaman Program
Overview (2013 – 2018)
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.
Community Latrine
Where: Gomoa Gyaman, Ghana
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.
Ecuador
Chaguarloma Program
Overview (2018 – Present)
We applied for partnership with the community of Chaguarloma in
2017 and was accepted in the winter of 2018. We are conducting the first assessment trip
to Chaguarloma in the summer of 2018 where we will establish a relationship with our new
partners as well as identify the needs of the community.