Morocco

Community Description
Iztat is one of the small "douars" in the village of Khoukhate, a village that relies almost exclusively on agriculture and sheep herding for its survival. Khoukhate is located in the Middle Atlas region of Morocco in the shadow of the Eastern High Atlas Mountains.

While the surrounding area is very dry, Khoukhate's location in a valley between three plateaus and fed by seven natural springs renders the village exceptionally lush. This project will take place in the agricultural area just outside of the village.

The entire village of Khoukhate contains approximately 1400 residents, and according to the most recent Ministry of Health statistics available, 471 individuals reside in Iztat in 62 different households.

The community of Iztat is tightly knit and the majority of residents are related to each other through blood or marriage, with virtually no immigration. Families have lived in the same houses and farmed the same land for generations, and the village feels far removed from the fast-developing cities of Morocco.

Electricity was installed just seven years ago, and there is still no running water, paved road, or health services.

The Khoukhate Water and Sanitation Project – Morocco was previously successfully completed in the same area by Peace Corps Volunteer Cynthia Berning

Iztat is a community supported almost entirely by subsistence agriculture fed by the valley's natural springs. These springs have been channeled into a complex system of irrigation ditches that carry the water from its sources to the fields surrounding the village. Except for a few weeks out of the year, the area sees very little rain, so these irrigation channels are vital for the cultivation of all crops.

One of the most important irrigation channels taps a spring that puts out approximately 180,000 liters per day at the source. In the past several years, the channel has become more and more susceptible to erosion, filling with run-off dirt and rocks every time it rains.

Currently, only an estimated 75,000 liters survive the journey through the channel to arrive at the fields, barely enough to cultivate the approximately 8.5 hectares that it feeds.

This eroded dirt blocks the flow of this abundant water sometimes for weeks until the men of the village have time to organize and work together to re-dig the ditch, allowing water to once again flow to their fields instead of disappearing into the ground.

During the summer of 2010, the channel was blocked on six different occasions, requiring a group of village men to devote 18 days of labor to cleaning out the ditch.

Project Description
This project is to improve the irrigation channel to provide for the uninterrupted irrigation of the fields. This will be accomplished by channeling the water through pipes laid in the channel.

The project will be conducted by the Iztat Community Development Association.

The problem will be solved permanently with 80 meters of piping and two days of work by a group of twelve men who represent the families who have the largest fields in the area that is fed by this particular spring.

A piped irrigation ditch will more efficiently channel the water to the fields, preventing much of the loss of water to the ground that occurs in a natural, unimproved channel. An increase in the quantity of water that travels through the channel will allow the farmers to begin to cultivate higher-value crops.

Apples, peaches, plums and tomatoes grow well in the region, but require more water than is currently available. They sell for much higher prices than the corn, wheat and carrots that are currently grown in these fields.

In addition, an addition 2-3 hectares of currently uncultivated land will be able to support agriculture when more of the water from this spring is captured and delivered efficiently to these fields.

Project funds will be used to purchase the necessary 5-inch diameter pipe, glue, cement, and sand, and to pay a modest amount for transportation of materials.

Project Impact
This project will benefit 184 people, consisting of the 34 farmers who have fields fed by this irrigation ditch plus the 150 wives, children and other family members residing in their households.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Cynthia Berning

Comments
This simple project vastly improves the capability of these farmers to consistently grow high-quality crops. It is a permanent solution to a problem that previously plagued the community, consumed valuable labor, and impacted upon the economic wellbeing of the farmers.

Dollar Amount of Project
$357.00

Donations Collected to Date
$357.00

Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 - This project has now been fully funded through the generosity of Six Senses Resorts & Spas as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.

We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Cynthia of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by the PCV and/or other projects in the country of service.

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

Community Description
Iztate is one of the small "douars" in the village of Khoukhate, a village that relies almost exclusively on agriculture and sheep herding for its survival. Khoukhate is located in the Middle Atlas region of Morocco in the shadow of the Eastern High Atlas Mountains.

While the surrounding area is very dry, Khoukhate's location in a valley between three plateaus and fed by seven natural springs renders the village exceptionally lush. The first portion of this project will take place in the Iztate primary school, while the second portion will take place in the center of the douar.

The entire village of Khoukhate contains approximately 1400 residents, and according to the most recent Ministry of Health statistics available, 471 individuals reside in Iztate in 62 different households. 37 are between the ages of nine months and five years of age, while an additional 91 are between the ages of five and fourteen.

Of the 91 school-age students, 58 are currently attending the Iztate primary school.

The community is tightly knit and the majority of residents are related to each other through blood or marriage, with virtually no immigration. Families have lived in the same houses and farmed the same land for generations, and the village feels far removed from the fast-developing cities of Morocco.

Electricity was installed just seven years ago, and there is still no running water, paved roads, or health services.

Project Description
This project has two parts:

(1) Completion of a school bathroom project, and

(2) Installation of a pair of public toilets in the center of the community.

Completion of the School Bathroom Project (50% of project funds)
In late December, 2009, the PCV in Khoukhate began working with the community of Iztate and the director of the primary school to construct a set of toilets for the school. To that point the school had no toilets or running water. At the same time, the ministry of infrastructure began a project to bring running water to Iztate, and promised to include the newly constructed toilets in the coming water system.

Construction of the toilets progressed with this promise in mind, and the toilets were completed. However, problems between the local government office, the ministry, and the community arose, and it became apparent that the running water would not be forthcoming.

Project funds will be used to purchase a small pump, a water tank, and the necessary piping to bring water from a nearby well into the school toilets. The well and pump will be protected by a small locked structure, which will keep pollutants out of the water and keep the pump safe and dry. Finally, a small a mural will be painted on the side of the toilets to illustrate the importance of hand washing.

Installation of public toilets (50% of project funds)
The second part of the project is to install a set of toilets in the center of the village for use by the public. There are a large number of houses in Iztate that do not have bathrooms, forcing residents to use the surrounding fields and gardens for this purpose.

Iztate is a relatively densely populated and compact douar, and this lack of proper sanitation practices has contaminated the ground to the extent that the well water has become undrinkable and residents must carry their water from one of the natural springs.

A pair of public bathrooms in a central location will provide residents with a sanitary alternative to relieving themselves outdoors. Their placement just outside the mosque, where nearly everyone goes to pray five times a day, will make them a convenient alternative as well.

An empty room attached to the mosque will be used to house the toilets so that the toilets and plumbing can be installed without the necessity of constructing a new structure.

The men of the village will provide all of the labor for this project.

Project Impact
There are 58 students and 3 teachers who will directly benefit from the first part of the project. In addition, 471 residents of the community will directly benefit from the second part.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Cynthia Berning

Comments
The combined parts of this project provide a great benefit for the school and the community for a small dollar amount. The first part makes the school toilets serviceable by providing running water. This exemplifies the objective of Appropriate Projects to “finish” projects that have been started and make them functional.

The second part, a public bathroom in the middle of the town, serves a vital public health function for the entire community by protecting the ground water from pollution by human waste, and greatly improving overall sanitation in the community.

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 Six Senses Resorts & Spas as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.

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

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

Community Description
Ait-Zelton has a population of about 5000. However, the community is spread out across 20 kilometers and is divided up between 33 'douars' (individual clusters of houses). The main languages spoken are Tashlheet and Moroccan Arabic.

Major health issues include lack of sanitation facilities, running water and dental hygiene.

Project Description
This project is to bring water to the school, and repair two bathrooms that are presently inoperative. Four water spouts will be installed, two of which will be used for hand washing and two for drinking.

In addition, supplementary health lessons will be taught on nutrition, dental hygiene, and general hygiene.

The project arose from the need identified by the school principal and a group of teachers, and it has the support of the entire community. The work will be done by local workers.

Project Impact
The project will immediately benefit the 86 students, who presently do not have access to running water or toilets during the school day. Disease will be reduced because of the improved sanitation, and school attendance is expected to increase.

Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Thomas Holubiak

Comments
This is a low-cost high-impact solution to an urgent problem. Running water and toilet facilities are being restored by fixing and restoring an inoperative system. Students are learning hygiene, and will bring such education home to their families.

Dollar Amount of Project
$400.00

Donations Collected to Date
$400.00

Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 - This project has been fully funded through the generosity of Chris Naylor, of Lafayette, Indiana, USA. Chris states:

I am funding this project as a Christmas gift to my family. I'm very thankful for the opportunity to assist somewhere very far away from my home.

We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Thomas Holubiak of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Thomas and/or those of his counterpart PCVs in Morocco.

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