Puerto Plata Filter Project – Dominican Republic

Puerto Plata, Dominican RepublicLocation
Rural area of Province of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

Community Description
The majority of households have one income supporting a family of 4-7 people. The source of water is currently from wells because city water systems are not developed or are very poorly maintained.

The families to be benefited are largely of Haitian origin, who have been overlooked by other aid programs in the area. They suffer from parasites, amoebas, diarrhea, and other waterborne illnesses.

Haitian School, Dominican RepublicProject Description
This project is to purchase and distribute 50 water filters, and train the families in their use and maintenance. The filters are of a type widely used in nearby communities, which have been medically proven to greatly reduce the incidence of disease.

Members of the community will be trained in the technology, transport the filters to remote areas, and train others. Beneficiaries will pay a portion of the costs, according to their abilities to do so.

A follow-up project will aim at teaching community members to produce the filters, thereby reducing the expense for future projects, and creating a source of work for the people.

Project Impact
Approximately 150 people will be directly affected by this project.

Kids and AsahiPeace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Asahi Wada

Comments
This project provides immediate help to those suffering from life-threatening illnesses. It is the appropriate technology to remedy a pressing need. It impacts a part of the population with no financial means to address the problem without assistance.

Dollar Amount of Project
$500.00

Donations Collected to Date
$500.00

Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 - This project has now been fully funded through the generosity of Hack & Slash, with the help of friends and family of Peace Corps Volunteer Asahi Wada, who have designated Water Charity as beneficiaries of this year’s Hack and Slash Christmas Special in Color held in Baltimore, MD.

The project is dedicated in honor of John and Kelly Davis.

We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify the PCV of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund future projects in the country of service.

This project has been completed. Click HERE to see the final report.

Conclusion of Puerto Plata Filter Project – Dominican Republic

To read about the beginning of this project, CLICK HERE.

Sabaneta de Yasica Community This project was completed under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Asahi Wada. Using a tried and proven technology widely used in the region, water filters were purchased and distributed to a segment of the community that had previously been overlooked.

Asahi reports:

The distribution of the water filters are as follows: 200 students at the Olivia Nuñez Hidalgo Elementary School, 50 individuals at the community center, 40 people at the church/school that serves mostly Haitians and Haitian-Dominicans, as well as 23 filters to individual families (serving about 90 individuals). The majority of the people who are now using the filters are children and adolescents.

In each case, school personnel, cook for the facility, or head of household was trained in the use and maintenance of the filter.

Although the area served is in a flood zone, making surveying the needs and delivering the filters difficult, the project was still completed on time and within budget.

The members of the community came out to give their thanks to Water Charity for making the project possible.

We again wish to thank Hack & Slash, with the help of friends and family of Peace Corps Volunteer Asahi Wada, for providing the funds for this project.