Wat Potaram Pre-School Bathroom Renovation Project - Thailand

Community Description
Baan Nong Hai Village is a small, agricultural community located in Maha Sarakham Province in the Northeastern region of Thailand. The surrounding area is a plain covered with rice fields.

Nearly 90% of the people in the community are rice farmers. Because it is so hot and dry in Baan Nong Hai, farmers only plant rice once a year and rely on other sources of income throughout the year, such as mushroom and tobacco growing.

According to the local government office in Baan Nong Hai, the average income is $1,300 USD per year. While the village is very rural and poor, there is a strong sense of community, with close family relationships and active community groups.

Wat Potaram Pre-School is one of two pre-school centers in the area. The school serves 75 students, ages 3-5, each year, with 5 teachers. Currently there is only one small, old bathroom, in which the students use and bathe in each day.

The pre-school is located on the grounds of Potaram Temple. Religion and Buddhist traditions play a very important role in the lives of the villagers, so this temple and pre-school are frequently used for community events as well as learning.

Project Description
This project is to renovate the bathroom at Wat Potaram Pre-School. The renovation will include a new toilet, water basin for bathing, a separate sink for hand washing, and a place to put soap and sanitizer.

Currently, students use the same basin of water for washing hands, flushing the toilet, and bathing. There is minimal drainage so the floor is very wet and full of water. Conditions adverse to proper hygiene and sanitation will be remediated.

Project Impact
75 children and 5 teachers will directly benefit from the project. In addition, the whole community will benefit during community events.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Heather Chadwick

Comments
A heavily-used bathroom that is lacking facilities and equipment, and is currently unsanitary, will be renovated to serve the school and the community. This is another high-impact, low-cost, project that will serve large numbers of people. It will reduce disease by creating hygienic conditions for years to come.

Dollar Amount of Project
$500.00

Donations Collected to Date
$500.00

Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 - This project has been fully funded through the generosity of Jonathan Kazmierczyk, of Arlington Virginia, USA, and Patricia Chadwick, of Fargo, North Dakota, USA.

We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Heather Chadwick of your donation. Additional money received will be used to fund the next project by Heather and/or those of her counterpart PCVs in Thailand.

This project has been completed. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.