Rice University Engineers Without Borders

During our time in the village, we were consistently evaluating their needs and looking for future projects. From our own observations, surveys, and conversations with villagers, we compiled a list of possible future projects, as follows:

Drip Irrigation: Using water from the Zandalla, consider expanding the current drip irrigation system to allow villagers to cultivate during the dry season.

Cover for the Zandalla: Because of the high rate of malaria, we would like to have the Zandalla covered in order to prevent mosquito access to the standing water.

Gate for the Zandalla: Talk with Madu, the village blacksmith, about designing a unique door for the entrance to the Zandalla.

Health, Nutrition and Sanitation Discussion with Women Leaders: Talk with women elders about important issues. Have a hygiene discussion and explain fecal/oral transmission, the role of mosquitoes in spreading malaria, and the importance of using soap to wash hands after the using the latrine and before eating. Also discuss the role of the new Zandalla rain catchment system and how the catchment water should only be used to hydrate animals and irrigate.

Treadle Pump: This pump has sliced several of the village women's ankles. Evaluate what is causing these injuries and fix it. Develop a system (perhaps using soil cement) to prevent puddles from forming around the pump. A survey of the area was conducted. Consider installing a fence (perhaps chain link) to prevent animals from invading the pump area.

Wells: Use soil cement to create and enlarge aprons around all wells. This will prevent standing water for mosquito larvae. Cover one or two of the uncovered wells and have a village discussion about why it's important to cover wells.

Deforestation: Discuss with the village various ways to reduce their use of fuel wood and encourage reforestation.

Micro-enterprise: Encourage villagers to create micro-enterprises using skills they learned while constructing the Zandalla and fixing the deep-well pump.

Trash: There are large amounts of garbage and small rubbish pits. Mosquitoes are attracted to these pits during the rainy season. Discuss ways of disposing of garbage, composting, containing rubbish pits, and possibly by creating one or several landfills.

Evaluation of Village School: The school building is in disrepair with cracks in the walls, a missing veranda roof, broken chalkboards and shaky benches. While the school is supposed to be a public school, in actuality it is private. Only the wealthiest families in the village can afford to send their children. Teachers are frustrated by the lack of basic materials such as books, pens and paper.

Michael Higuera, Tamar Losleben, and Abigail Watrous