post-assessment report chapter: university of alaska...
TRANSCRIPT
Rev. 03-2010
Document 522
POST-ASSESSMENT REPORT
CHAPTER: University of Alaska Anchorage
COUNTRY: Cameroon
COMMUNITY: Rhema Grace Orphanage
PROJECT: Assessment of Water Supply and
Other Community Needs
PREPARED BY
Brittany Barkshire
Wesley Phelps
Mentor: Chuck Stilwell
Submittal Date: October 12, 2010
ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS-USA
www.ewb-usa.org
Document 522 - Post-Assessment Report
University of Alaska Anchorage
Rhema Grace Orphanage, Cameroon
Cook Stove & Water Supply Assessment
© 2007 Engineers Without Borders – USA. All Rights Reserved Page 2 of 38
Table of Contents
Part 1: Administrative Information
1.0 Contact Information
2.0 Travel History
3.0 Travel Team
4.0 Safety
5.0 Budget – Implementation and Assessment Trip (August 2010)
6.0 Project Location
Part 2: Technical Information
1.0 Introduction
2.0 Background
3.0 Trip Description
4.0 Community Information
4.1 Community Description
4.2 Community/NGO Resources and Constraints
4.3 Community Relations
4.4 Community Needs & Priorities
5.0 Data and Analysis
5.1 Water
5.2 Materials
5.3 Ownership, O&M, and Sustainability
5.4 Community Health
5.5 Stove
5.6 Electricity
5.7 Flood Control
6.0 Photo-documentation
7.0 Project Feasibility
8.0 Lessons Learned
9.0 Mentor Assessment
Appendices
A. Orphanage Site Layout
B. Rain Catchment Information
C. Materials Assessment
D. Company Contact Information
E. Orphanage Site Survey
F. Orphanage Drainage Plan
G. Electrical Cost Proposal
Document 522 - Post-Assessment Report
University of Alaska Anchorage
Rhema Grace Orphanage, Cameroon
Cook Stove & Water Supply Assessment
© 2007 Engineers Without Borders – USA. All Rights Reserved Page 3 of 38
Part 1: Administrative Information
1.0 Contact Information
Name E-mail Phone Chapter
Project Lead Wesley Phelps [email protected] 907-299-4299 EWB-UAA
President Robert Champion [email protected] 907-841-8434 EWB-UAA
Mentor #1 Nancy Hibbert [email protected] 907-360-3279 EWB-SCA
Mentor #2 Chuck Stilwell PE [email protected] 406-491-1129 EWB-SCA
Mentor #3 John Pepe PE [email protected] 907-830-9231 EWB-SCA
Faculty Advisor (if
applicable)
Utpal Dutta PhD [email protected] 907-786-1952 EWB-UAA
Health and Safety
Officer
Carla Buys [email protected] 907-602-3948 EWB-UAA
Assistant Health
and Safety Officer
Nancy Hibbert [email protected] 907-360-3279 EWB-SCA
NGO/Community
Contact
Peter Njodzeka [email protected] 237-7771-
6288
EWB-UAA
Education Lead Nancy Hibbert [email protected] 907-602-3948 EWB-UAA
2.0 Travel History
Dates of Travel Assessment or Implementation Description of Trip
August 2009 Assessment Collect information sufficient to develop a
plan, based on needs identified by the
orphanage and the goals of EWB, which
can be developed into an engineered design
that could be implemented in two weeks,
one year later.
August 2010 Assessment and Implementation Collect information about the site,
community, and available materials in
order to complete plans for a future water
project. The goal is to finalize and
implement the water project within the
next year. A cook stove was installed in
the kitchen to improve cooking and health
conditions for the children and staff of the
orphanage.
Document 522 - Post-Assessment Report
University of Alaska Anchorage
Rhema Grace Orphanage, Cameroon
Cook Stove & Water Supply Assessment
© 2007 Engineers Without Borders – USA. All Rights Reserved Page 4 of 38
3.0 Travel Team
Name E-mail Phone Chapter Student or
Professional
Wesley Phelps [email protected] 907-299-4299 EWB-UAA Student
Brittany Barkshire [email protected] 907-244-3045 EWB-UAA Student
Kris Homerding [email protected] 907-947-2260 EWB-UAA Student
Nancy Hibbert [email protected] 907-360-3279 EWB-SCA Professional
Chuck Stilwell, P.E. [email protected] 406-491-1129 EWB-SCA Professional
4.0 Safety
4.1 Safety Incident Reports
No Health and Safety Incidents occurred on this trip.
5.0 Budget
5.1 Cost
Below is a summary of the trip costs, including all actual costs for the travel,
implementation of the stove construction, and assessment (subject of this report).
Expense Total Cost Total Cost
(Sans Advisors)
Airfare 12,130 8,947
On Ground 5,220 4,651
Stove Costs 1,939 1,939
Other 260 260
Total 19,549 15,797
6.0 Project Location Longitude: 9.3680556; 9° 22' 5" E
Latitude: 4.0786111; 4° 4' 43" N
Mailing address of Rhema Grace Orphanage:
P.O Box 1016 Limbe
Fako Division
South West Region
Cameroon – West Africa
Document 522 - Post-Assessment Report
University of Alaska Anchorage
Rhema Grace Orphanage, Cameroon
Cook Stove & Water Supply Assessment
© 2007 Engineers Without Borders – USA. All Rights Reserved Page 5 of 38
Post Assessment Report Part 2 – Technical Information
1.0 INTRODUCTION
In August 2010, three student members of EWB-UAA and two advisors traveled to
Rhema Grace Orphanage to implement a wood burning cook stove and to perform
additional assessment, including the community‟s water usage and needs, material and
services availability and costs, ownership and sustainability, community health, and the
completed stove. These assessment topics were identified in the 521 Pre-Assessment
Report (Travel Dates: August, 2010, Document published June 20, 2010). In addition to
the topics covered above, several other areas were assessed: electricity and flood control.
Finally, several additional tasks were completed which will facilitate the success of future
projects, including: further evaluated the most critical needs of the orphanage;
identifying a core group of individuals who can manage and maintain projects; and
finding reliable and competent contacts within the community who could provide local
information once the club members returned to Alaska.
This 522 document provides information on the assessment portion of the trip, and will
be complemented by a 526, summarizing the implementation of the stove construction.
2.0 PROGRAM BACKGROUND
This water and community assessment was the second assessment trip for EWB-UAA
and was performed concurrently with the construction of a new wood cook stove at the
same location. The project was initially described by Peter Njodzeka, of the Life and
Water Development Group, and proposed to EWB-USA. At that time, the orphanage was
called St. Marks Orphanage. Since then the name has been changed to the Rhema Grace
Orphanage. EWB-UAA applied for and was awarded the project described as kitchen
and water improvements.
In August of 2009 a team of two students and one professional engineer traveled to the
orphanage for two weeks to conduct an assessment. They assembled a panel of people
involved with the orphanage to establish the scope of the community and its broader
needs. It was decided that the community would be defined as the orphanage, its
residents, and employees and would not include the surrounding population. The two
groups have different needs and challenges that would require different solutions. With
the current available resources, it would be impossible to aid both the overall village and
the orphanage community. Contacts within the larger population were made so that the
impact and perceptions of the work could be monitored among those outside the
orphanage. The group met with the local clergy, a mason, elders, business people, police,
and the Minister of Social affairs for the region.
Document 522 - Post-Assessment Report
University of Alaska Anchorage
Rhema Grace Orphanage, Cameroon
Cook Stove & Water Supply Assessment
© 2007 Engineers Without Borders – USA. All Rights Reserved Page 6 of 38
It was proposed to the orphanage that a group of students would return in one year and
help them construct a cafeteria with hand sinks. At the time, the group was also looking
closely at options to reduce the cost of pumping water from an existing drilled well.
When the travel team returned to the US and started designing it was found that there
were a number of difficult challenges associated with that proposal. We enlisted the help
of three professional advisors from the Alaska professional chapter of EWB-USA, EWB-
South Central Alaska. As a club, we needed to better understand EWB as an
organization as well as EWB's approach to project development.
In December 2009, with the help of our advisors who had become familiar with the
project, we took a fresh look at the data collected and re-scoped the project. The new
plan included a hand pump to replace the electric one, a rain catchment system to provide
a parallel system for clean water, and a stove to improve the conditions of the kitchen.
We sent the new proposal to the orphanage via e-mail for review. They evaluated
alternatives we had provided and gave us their suggestions and approval. We contacted
Peter Njodzeka of LWDG and he visited the orphanage to obtain information for us. We
provided him with an extensive questionnaire and he conducted video interviews, took
pictures, and documented all this for us.
After additional planning and design, the scope was further reduced to implement a cook
stove only, and to perform a more thorough assessment of the site, community, and
conditions to assure future water and other projects were successful. Given the scope of
the trip, and available funds, it was decided that three students and two advisors would
travel to the Orphanage in August 2010
3.0 TRIP DESCRIPTION
Three students and two advisors traveled to Cameroon, Africa in August 2010 to aid in
the implementation of a cook stove at the Rhema Grace Orphanage. A main focus of the
trip included an assessment of the site, community, conditions, and potential future
projects. As this document focuses primarily on the assessment portion of the project, it
will not cover the construction of the stove.
For planning the assessment portion of the trip, EWB-UAA completed a 521 Pre-
Assessment Report (Travel Date: August, 2010, published June 20, 2010). This report,
along with associated questionnaires and checklists guided assessment activities. The
major areas of assessment from the 521 were: Water (Demand, Current Water System,
Rain Catchment); Materials; Ownership/O&M/Sustainability; Community Health; and
Stove. Added to these shortly before the trip were electricity supply and flood control.
The assessment included three primary information-gathering methods: observation;
interviews/discussion; and measurement and data collection. For instance, water usage
could be observed. Daily, multiple children were seen bathing with water from a bucket.
Document 522 - Post-Assessment Report
University of Alaska Anchorage
Rhema Grace Orphanage, Cameroon
Cook Stove & Water Supply Assessment
© 2007 Engineers Without Borders – USA. All Rights Reserved Page 7 of 38
It was also easy to observe the amount of water collected from the tap, as each time water
was collected a bucket had to be carried to the tap and away from it. Interviewing
individuals was also done. A list of questions regarding overall organization of the
orphanage, water usage, electrical needs, etc. was created prior to the trip. These
questions were asked to Mercy, the founder of the orphanage, the children, and the staff.
By asking multiple people the same questions, it increased our assurance of getting
accurate answers. Multiple perspectives provided details that would not be obtained by
speaking with only one person. Lastly, measurements were taken and data was collected
for various elements of the assessment. For instance, for the rain catchment, each of the
buildings was photographed from every side, and pertinent dimensions were collected
(i.e., height, width, roof angle, etc.).
Early in the trip, a meeting was held with the management of the orphanage to discuss
their most critical needs. The meeting included Mercy (founder/director), Gloria
(finances), volunteer staff, and the EWB travelers. Their highest priority needs discussed
in the 2009 assessment trip were discussed. They established that the largest need of the
orphanage was still electricity. The community has a borehole, a holding tank, and
plumbing to a tap and toilets, but none of it can function without the use of a generator.
Generally, reliance on their current generator it is certainly not sustainable. Electricity
would ensure the orphanage would have a reliable water source as well as provide
lighting. This will be discussed later in this document. In addition to electricity, their
other needs were discussed and are summarized in Section 5.6.
The water-related assessment included a multi-evidence approach to determining water
usage. The current water system was thoroughly evaluated. As described in Section
5.1.2, the system does supply clean drinking water, but it‟s sustainability is questionable
due to maintenance problems. Also, material and site and building conditions were
assessed to better understand the ability to implement rain catchment systems. The group
also attended a meeting with the Limbe Rotary chapter, where the partnership with the
future water projects was discussed.
While all evidence indicates that the creek water is polluted, no tests were done to
confirm this. A water sample was collected from the creek, but this sample could not be
tested in the community due to a time restriction and the extreme cost. A sample was
brought back to Alaska where the team attempted to have it tested, though holding times
were exceeded for an accurate test to be performed.
With the help of Peter Njodzeka and Steve Tataw, the group visited shops in both Douala
and Limbe to assess material availability and cost, as summarized in Section 5.2. Prices
were documented in a spreadsheet as well as with photographs. Added elements of the
assessment included electrical service and flood control. For the electrical service, one
meeting was arranged with the AES-Sonel, the electrical company in the area.
Unfortunately, the company is directed out of Douala, and we were unable to arrange an
appointment. As for the flood control, drainage patterns were observed during several
Document 522 - Post-Assessment Report
University of Alaska Anchorage
Rhema Grace Orphanage, Cameroon
Cook Stove & Water Supply Assessment
© 2007 Engineers Without Borders – USA. All Rights Reserved Page 8 of 38
heavy rain storms, which will be mapped. The assessment of the stove will be presented
in the 526, to be submitted at a later time.
The community health assessment was performed with extensive interviews of staff,
children, and local health officials. General health questions were asked to both Mercy
and the staff regarding the health of the children. Twenty children- ten boys and ten
girls- were asked specific health questions to create a baseline of the overall health of the
orphanage. Nancy also visited the local health clinic where the children go when they are
ill.
Overall, the assessment was completed as thoroughly as time permitted. Documentation,
photographs, and spreadsheets were brought back from the trip. AutoCAD drawings will
be created of each building as well as the general site layout.
4.0 COMMUNITY INFORMATION
4.1 Description of Community
For the purpose of this assessment, we have identified the „community‟ as the Rhema
Grace Orphanage. In August 2010, fifty-four children and 16-18 full- and part-time
employees and volunteers were at Rhema Grace Orphanage relying on its infrastructure.
At any given time, fifty to eighty children are supported by the orphanage (around 15
young adults are supported while at vocational school). The children range in age from
infancy to twenty-one years of age. Mercy Batetataw, the founder and director, is the only
caretaker who lives at the orphanage full time. The other employees and volunteers live
within the surrounding area. These employees include volunteers, teachers, night guards,
cooks, laundry assistants, and babysitters.
The Rhema Grace Orphanage is located in the village Ombe (Quarter 20). Ombe is
located within the town Mutengane, which is in the Tiko subdivision. Ombe is about 3
km west of Mutengane along Route N3, down a dirt road leading south on the east of a
river. About 2.5 km south of Route N3, the Orphanage is located on the east side of the
road. It is the first of a number of buildings after passing through farmland. The name of
the orphanage is painted prominently on the front of the building. The village of Ombe
is composed of 77 homes and around 300 people. According to Mercy, the founder and
director of the orphanage, the recent population is diverse and composed of many tribal
groups from other parts of the country. The land is owned by the Bakwerian people, but
inhabited by Bebe, Meta, Bayange, Keaka, and Keyak (Manfi) Tribes. The main group is
the Bebe people, who compose 75% of the population. She indicated that the
government had recently made inexpensive land available in the area and that is what had
drawn the people from many different areas.
Document 522 - Post-Assessment Report
University of Alaska Anchorage
Rhema Grace Orphanage, Cameroon
Cook Stove & Water Supply Assessment
© 2007 Engineers Without Borders – USA. All Rights Reserved Page 9 of 38
The infrastructure relevant to the orphanage community includes 3 km dirt road access
from Route N3, a 37m deep borehole, two dormitories (main dorm and new boy‟s dorm),
a partially-complete reading room, a bathhouse with latrines, and a kitchen structure. Of
those, the orphanage owns all except the road, and main dormitory building. All of this is
located on two adjacent properties, one rented and one owned by the Orphanage; the
main dormitory is on the rented land and everything else is on the parcel owned by the
orphanage. A copy of the Orphanage‟s site survey is in Appendix E. The Orphanage
owns an additional plot of land up the road towards Route N3 that they use to raise crops,
although this provides very little value because many of the crops are stolen. The
Orphanage grows a portion of the food they need. They would like to raise meats as well
but currently do not have the capacity besides a few chickens. There is a gravel pit about
a quarter mile further down the road that provides crushed stone of different, sorted sizes.
Agriculture is the largest employment in the area. The orphanage grows plantains,
bananas, squash and other crops. Palm plantations are common in the area. Limbe has a
cement works and there is much oil produced in the area. There is a French refinery
about 20 miles away on the coast near Limbe.
The borehole is part of a larger water system built in partnership between the Limbe
Rotary Chapter and a Spanish Rotary Chapter. It includes the borehole, a submersible
pump, a small generator, an elevated water tank, a tap near the kitchen and a bathhouse
with latrines. Wastewater from the showers and latrines flows to a poured concrete tank
underground next to the bathhouse.
4.2 Community/NGO Resources and Constraints
Until recently, the orphanage has not kept any record of their economical transactions.
The funding and resources of the orphanage are unclear, as they seem to be extremely
inconsistent, and change frequently, thus making planning difficult. The orphanage is
mainly funded by Mercy. Over 50% of all costs are paid directly through her personal
money. Mercy donates all of her income that is not absolutely necessary for her own well
being. This money is made from various sources. For instance, as a minister, Mercy
receives $1000-$4000 per month from each person she has trained as a minister. A few
years ago she had a car business, where she would import used vehicles from Europe, re-
fabricate them, and then sell them to make a profit. Due to high customs fees, this is no
longer a profitable or feasibly mode of income, so Mercy has stopped these endeavors.
Mercy has also tried making a profit in the flea market. She imports large bales (or
shipments) of clothing, bags, etc. from Europe and other parts of Africa, keeps the
clothing that the children can use and sells the rest. This can make anywhere from $10-
120 (US currency) per day. Similarly, Mercy stitches African clothing and sells it in the
flea markets. Four years ago, Mercy owned a boat maintained by a crew that could bring
in up to $4000 per month, unfortunately this boat was stolen to Nigeria and never seen
again. Mercy's last source of funding is agriculture. She owns 3 hectares of land that
Document 522 - Post-Assessment Report
University of Alaska Anchorage
Rhema Grace Orphanage, Cameroon
Cook Stove & Water Supply Assessment
© 2007 Engineers Without Borders – USA. All Rights Reserved Page 10 of 38
produces plantains, squash, etc. This land does not make much profit because most of the
crops are either used to feed the orphanage or stolen since the area is very dangerous.
In the past, the orphanage has received assistance from the US Navy, a Spanish Rotary
Chapter, banks and other charitable organizations but these seem to be one-time
donations. Mercy appears to be well-connected with several community leaders. Mercy
has an old friend and classmate who is a high-ranking instructor at the police academy
nearby and he helped us with secure transportation and frequently makes things happen
for the orphanage. Another contact we met of which Mercy has a good relationship was
the Minister of Social Affairs, who oversees private orphanages such of Rhema-Grace.
Yet, the organization of the orphanage relies almost entirely on Mercy. We have
assembled a panel for the purpose of collecting information and ideas but Mercy is
clearly the strong leader. The older children contribute significantly to the running of the
orphanage and care of the other, younger children. The employees include a man named
Allen who was educated as a mechanical engineer and seems interested in helping with
our projects. Two to seven schoolteachers are also employed. The rest of the help is not
formally trained to our knowledge but provide domestic help. Some of the older children
are studying accounting and management. The orphanage‟s administrative capacity is
strained and they identified this as an area of great need. Pidgin English is spoken in this
area and in Limbe but French is spoken in Douala. The first day there we found a little
trouble communicating but after a day or two we became more accustomed to the accent
and could understand each other. It is important for travelers to speak slowly and with
common, simple words. We have made contacts with a local mason, Christopher Boh,
who was instrumental in the construction of the stove. He would be a very reliable
contact for future projects. The orphanage is about 15 miles from Limbe and 35 miles
from Douala. Vendors of construction materials are in both cities as well as in
Mutangene. Traveling any distance can take some time however, due to police stops and
crowds/ livestock in the roads.
We have established a formal partnership with Life and Water Development Group and
the Limbe Rotary Chapter. LWDG has provided us in the past with a guide and
translating services. They have also sent a representative, Peter N., to Rhema Grace to
collect information for us. The Limbe Rotary Chapter was a part of the previous water
project at the orphanage and has pledged to assist us in improvements. They can provide
business connections in Limbe and be a link to funding. The travel team attended two
Limbe Rotary meetings while visiting, and met many of the Rotarians. They seem eager
to learn about the future projects and willing to assist with them. These groups have the
connections we need to accomplish this project; the key will be responsiveness. Our
group‟s biggest constraint is time and business is conducted at a much slower pace in
Cameroon.
LWDG is our primary NGO partner and has provided us with guide, language and
information collecting services. They can provide us with cultural information and trends
Document 522 - Post-Assessment Report
University of Alaska Anchorage
Rhema Grace Orphanage, Cameroon
Cook Stove & Water Supply Assessment
© 2007 Engineers Without Borders – USA. All Rights Reserved Page 11 of 38
in water development in the area. However, they cannot provide any financial assistance,
and in face, need to be reimbursed for their costs.
4.3 Community Relations
For the Rhema Grace Orphanage, the primary contact is via e-mail with Mercy, the
director. Mercy was ill this winter, however, we were able to maintain regular contact
through one of the oldest orphans, Gloria. While at the orphanage we were able to hold
discussions with a good cross section of the orphanage from residents to staff and
volunteers. We met with the local clergy, a mason, elders, business people, police, the
American consulate, and the Minister of Social Affairs for the region. The clergy tend to
the people in the surrounding population; the mason aided with the stove construction
and would like to help us in our project; elders are not as in traditional African
communities but their care is partially provided by the orphanage. The business people
sell materials or are a part of Rotary; Rotary may work with us to fund our water project
and they previously drilled a well and constructed a water system at the orphanage. The
police officer who helped us with transport and general information was a high school
classmate of Mercy‟s and is now the head instructor at the nearby commando/police
academy. The Ministry of Social Affairs provides some measure (it is unclear how much)
of support for the orphanage. He mainly expressed a distaste for the corruption in the
politics in the region and warned us to be cautious of this. Our primary NGO partner is
The Life and Water Development Group and specifically Peter Njodzeka. The orphanage
is willing and excited to help with the implementation and maintenance of future projects.
The surrounding community seems less likely to aid in implementation, costs, or
maintenance unless the project specifically impacts them as well, such as electricity. The
Orphanage signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding their responsibilities
related to the EWB-UAA projects.
4.4 Community Priorities
The top needs identified by the orphanage in 2009 were as follows (with notes on status):
1. Electricity (see assessment, Section 5)
2. Classrooms (Reading room may help, once complete)
3. Administration and Organization
4. Medicine
5. Food
6. Financial Support
7. Dining Facilities
8. Dormitories (new boys dorm was completed in 2009)
9. Improve the Kitchen (stove project will assist)
10. Reading Room (already being built; expected to be complete by 2011)
Document 522 - Post-Assessment Report
University of Alaska Anchorage
Rhema Grace Orphanage, Cameroon
Cook Stove & Water Supply Assessment
© 2007 Engineers Without Borders – USA. All Rights Reserved Page 12 of 38
After our meeting with the orphanage management, it was clear that the top needs have
not changed drastically over the last year. The orphanage now has a better understanding
of our capabilities and restrictions. With a new understanding of our restrictions, the
orphanage felt we could best help them with the following needs:
1. Electricity
2. Dormitories
3. Classrooms
4. Clean Water
5. Dining Facilities
This list is the staff‟s perception of the orphanage‟s needs. In evaluating future projects
and EWB‟s involvement in those, we will consider this list. Yet, some of these needs are
already being met (e.g., new boy‟s dorm recently built, reading room/classroom in
process of being built), and some needs may not be a good fit for EWB involvement.
5.0 DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Data collection and analysis was performed on the following assessment areas: Water
(demand, current system, rain catchment); Materials; Ownership/O&M/Sustainability;
Community Health; Stove; Electricity; and Flood Control. This section summarizes key
data collected and the analysis of the information with respect to the objectives of each
area.
5.1 Water
Clean water is essential for the success of any community. As a basic need of all
humans, water was a top focus for the assessment. The water assessment portion was
divided into four sub-sections: demand/usage: current system; hand pump; and rainwater
catchment.
5.1.1 Usage
The water usage at the orphanage was observed routinely during the trip. Usage of tap
water was the most critical issue, along assessing use of water from other sources was
also performed. Water usage was assessed by observing amounts taken from the tap, by
interviewing staff and children, and collecting information on water pumping. Table 2
summarizes the results of water usage, with the Volume being the amount of water stated
being used (or observed being used), and the Alternative Volume being a likely range of
usage given all information collected on usage.
Document 522 - Post-Assessment Report
University of Alaska Anchorage
Rhema Grace Orphanage, Cameroon
Cook Stove & Water Supply Assessment
© 2007 Engineers Without Borders – USA. All Rights Reserved Page 13 of 38
Table 1: Water Usage Per Day
Water
Use
Water
Source
Volume
(L)
Alternative
Volume (L)
Notes
Baby
Bathing
Tap 75 75-125 Water is heated and used to bath
children under 6 of age on a daily basis
Bathing
Girls
Creek 75 25-150 Creek water brought into showers with
buckets
Bathing
Boys
Creek 75 25-150* Bathe directly in Creek; so estimate is
based on if boys also bathed in
showers*
Cooking Tap 80 75-120 Creek or Rain if Tap is unavailable
Volume depends on dish being made
Dishes Tap/ Rain 30 25-75 Rain when available
Clothing Creek/
Rain
150 125-175
Drinking
(Children)
Tap 25 20-75 Interview: Each child drinks 1-3 cups
per day; Observation: Many take
water directly from tap, so difficult to
estimate.
Drinking
(Adults)
Tap 20 20-40 Older boys fill 2 20L jugs every day or
two for adults in the dorm area.
Garden Creek 100 0-100 Garden is only watered in the dry
season when the creek has not dried
completely
Hand
Washing
Tap/Creek/
Rain
25 20-100 Wherever convenient; many children
wash hands at tap, allowing several
liters at a time, thus difficult to estimate
and a source of wasted water.
Total Tap
Usage
255 230-535 Does not include potential waste from
overflow in using tap, or leaks.
Other
Usage
400 175-575
Total 655 405-1110 Dependent on Season
While the WHO (World Health Organization) standards are known, the orphanage
apparently uses drastically less water than is suggested, even during their wet season.
At the orphanage, another key finding regarding tap water usage was their estimate of
filling the 2000L tank once every-other day. If so, then the higher end of the Alternative
Volume appears more accurate. Higher water usage may be due to certain inefficiencies,
such as kids washing their hands directly from the tap and allowing several liters to fall to
Document 522 - Post-Assessment Report
University of Alaska Anchorage
Rhema Grace Orphanage, Cameroon
Cook Stove & Water Supply Assessment
© 2007 Engineers Without Borders – USA. All Rights Reserved Page 14 of 38
the ground in the process. Also, we cited water leaks at the tap and other parts of the
system (which were fixed, but could be a source of higher usage).
During our stay, we depleted the 2000L several times in one day. Though at first this
appears an indicator of even higher usage by the orphanage, it is believed that water
usage during our stay was much higher than their normal usage for the following reasons:
the showers were turned on for our use and by other adults such as the guards; leaks in
the shower‟s plumbing caused a lot of waste during our stay (normally showers water is
turned off); and there was much more food preparation and dish washing during our stay.
5.1.2 Current Water System
Currently the Orphanage relies on a borehole, submersible pump powered by a diesel
generator, elevated storage tank, and gravity fed tap and showers/toilets for all clean
water. Each component of this system was assessed during the trip. The largest
complication of this system is the generator. The pump cannot work without power, and
the generator is in extremely poor condition. When the generator is out for repair, water
cannot be pumped, and thus creek water is used for everything.
Basic statistics of the current water system are:
Borehole:
37‟ Deep
Water level 6‟ Below Surface on 8/11/2010
After filling empty tank, Water Level 11‟ Below Surface 8/11/2010
5 meters from tank
Pump:
Rate: ~60L/min (we observed filling the 2000L tank in 30-35 minutes)
Storage Tank:
2000 L tank
5‟ high
4‟ Diameter
Plastic, with large mouthed lid
Transmission Line:
1” Diameter black plastic flex-hose (HDPE)
Tap:
Valve controls flow
No lock on the system
Toilets/Showers:
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8 shower heads
8 toilet water holders
Cost of Water:
Pumping water: Less than $1/day (given 30 minutes to pump 2000L, which usually lasts
2 days; 1 liter diesel powers generator for ~1 hour; $1/liter diesel)
System Maintenance: Not fully quantified (generator maintenance could be $10-
50/month, based on observations and our direct experience during our trip. Water lines
and valve maintenance also contribute to maintenance costs.)
A schematic showing the system‟s components and distribution lines will be developed
as part of the future assessment/project development.
The generator donated to the orphanage with the Rotary water system has broken and at
the time of our first assessment had not been repaired and there were no plans for this.
They are using another, smaller generator to power the pump which appeared to be
undersized. Before the generator had broken, the orphanage found it was difficult to pay
for diesel fuel for the generator. The orphanage also uses the generator to power a
limited number of loads in the dormitory. Due to the cost of diesel fuel for the generator,
the borehole water is only used for drinking and cooking. Bathing, flushing the latrines,
etc. is done with creek water. The creek is downstream from Mutengene, is believed to
be polluted from domestic waste, and a perceived source of illness in both the orphanage
and the surrounding village. The showers are typically unused due to the cost of
pumping water, although they did turn them on for the travelers.
While the basic costs of pumping clean tap water is not great (less than $1/day),
reliability and maintenance cost of the current generator is the cause for concern. With
no back-up if the generator is not working, the orphanage resorts to using creek water for
all their needs. Further evaluation and consideration of projects to make the current
system more reliable appears warranted.
5.1.3 Hand Pump
Since the current water source is unavailable when the orphanage cannot afford fuel, a
hand pump would be an excellent alternative. Unfortunately, no system available nearby
could function in the same borehole as the current electric pump system.
After meeting with a distributor in Douala, it became apparent that there were two main
options: choose between the electric system or a hand pump; or drill a new borehole for
the hand pump. After discussing the pump issue with Mercy, she felt strongly that a hand
pump would be beneficial to the orphanage. Her ultimate concern is the health and safety
of the children, and clean water is essential for maintaining this. Because of the high cost
of fuel, Mercy is increasingly concerned that she will not be able to provide clean water
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for the children. She feels a hand pump would be an excellent solution to this concern as
long as the system is reliable.
Yet, the main pump system used in the area is the Indian Mark-II Handpump. This pump
has three basic components, the lever, the cylinder assembly (pump), and the base with
spigot. These pumps can only pump around 120L/hr which is significantly less than the
4000 L/hr that the electrical pump is capable of. This would be a problem with
individuals needing to hand-pump for several hours per day to deliver enough water for
the orphanage‟s need. On the other hand, the hand pump is simple to use, easy to
maintain, and simple to repair. All of the parts are available locally, and can be replaced
with common tools.
An estimated cost, provided by the pump distributer, Ste Camatel Sarl in Douala can be
found below:
Quantity Item Price
Each
Total
Price
01 Pump 193.000 193.000
01 Tank 122.500 122.500
03 Bore hole Pipe
(3m sections)
27.500 247.500
01 Tank Stand 56.500 56.500
Sum 619.500
Tax 119.255
Total
(FR)
738.755
This cost translates to $1477. Also, this cost does not include drilling a new borehole,
which would be a significant add-on that could be further verified given several local
contact in Duoala.
5.1.4 Rainwater Catchment
A rainwater catchment system could be extremely beneficial to the orphanage during the
rainy season and possibly into the dry season. While the orphanage currently relies on
their borehole system, this water is used sparingly because of its high cost. Because of
this, water is only pumped into the tank every evening to fill it and it is not filled
throughout the day. When the water runs out, the children and staff must rely on other
water sources, namely, the creek. The creek is viewed as a contaminated source because
unofficial evidence has shown it to cause illness within the children. In order to conserve
tank water, creek water and rain water are used for most of the general, everyday tasks.
These include washing laundry, cleaning, and bathing. When money is short, creek water
is also used for washing dishes, cooking, and drinking. During the rainy season,
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frequently small buckets (5-20 L) are placed outside to catch rainfall, but no official
system is in place.
Generally, after assessing the available buildings, the recently-completed boy‟s dorm and
the new reading room, projected for completion in 2011, would be the best candidates for
a rain catchment system. This is due to their new roofs, relative high profile (allowing
different sized tanks to be slightly elevated and still below the roof gutter), and they are
owned by the orphanage. With new roofs, cleaning would not be necessary. Gutters
would have to be installed, but they are locally available and relatively cheap. The
largest expense of the system would be the tank; ranging from 390.000-900.000 CFA
($780-$1800) depending on the size. This expense as well as general maintenance
expenses would still be more affordable than fuel prices over several years.
Primary data collected for the rainwater catchment assessment was material availability
and cost, building and site conditions and measurements, as well as a better
understanding of rainfall patterns in the area. See Section 5.2 and the associated
Appendix C for the materials assessment, including availability and cost. See Appendix
B for the building dimensions. Regarding local rainfall, quantifiable meterological data
was not available. Yet, a better understanding of the wet and dry seasons was gained.
Generally, the wet season goes from March to November. Often the wettest months are
July-September, but rain is frequent during the entire wet season – sometimes daily,
sometimes several times per week. During the dry season, rain can still occur, but much
less frequently and less intense. The true dry season may only be 4 months of the year.
Mercy feels this system would be extremely beneficial to the orphanage. While she
realizes this water would probably not be safe to drink, it would be safer to was clothes
and bathe with compared to creek water, in emergency situations. She was willing to
spend the money on parts for maintenance of the system if the older boys were shown
how to properly care for it. Mercy was even willing to redesign the roof of the reading
room in order to facilitate a catchment system.
5.2 Material Assessment
Please see Appendix C for a list of materials and their costs at various stores, both in
Limbe and Douala. Also, given the established contact made during the trip (see Table 1,
page 18 for a list of community contacts), we will be able to develop specific materials
lists for future designs, then have our contacts get more precise material availability and
costs for the projects. Finally, additional contacts at each suppliers assessed are listed in
Appendix D.
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5.3 Ownership, O&M, and Sustainability
Please see Section 4, Community Information for a summary of ownership and
sustainability issues, and our assessment. In summary, over the short term with Mercy as
the director, it is clear that the orphanage will take ownership of projects we assist with.
However, because the orphanage is highly dependent on Mercy, it is not clear of the
ownership and sustainability of the orphanage if/when Mercy is not the director. While
this appears to be an area of long-term concern, it is an issue with which we may assist to
further define and manage.
In addition to the community information, issues, and potential solutions related to
ownership and sustainability for the orphanage, we initiated a maintenance program for
infrastructure and projects at the orphanage. Given the current water system is less than 4
years old, and the orphanage‟s heavy reliance on it for drinking water, maintenance of the
system is critical. Yet, there was no concerted effort for upkeep of the system. Primarily
with Wesley working with the older boys, there was an effort to educate them on
maintenance issues. Though rudimentary, the maintenance program had the following
elements: 1. identify maintenance problems through routine observations; 2. fix those
minor problems, if they had the skill and tools to do so (e.g., minor leaks in valves); 3.
periodically service the generator (preventative maintenance) with a local technical; and
4. for more significant issues, identify cost-effective means for local technicians to assist
with maintenance. We provided a set of tools which would help them with minor
maintenance tasks around the orphanage.
Community Contacts One of the largest challenges of planning and designing a project at the orphanage is
overcoming the great distance between Alaska and Cameroon. Key to communication
and coordination in planning future projects are utilizing the contacts made during the
trip. Below is a table listing some of the most helpful and knowledgeable contacts in the
area.
The address for the Rhema Grace Orphanage is:
P.O Box 1016 Limbe
Fako Division
South West Region
Cameroon – West Africa
Table 2: Community Contacts (Helpful Contacts for Future Use)
Name Relationship Email Phone Number Expertise
Batetataw Mercy
Beyang
Orphanage
Director
[email protected] (0037) 75 21 41 13 Orphanage Needs/
Management
Gloria Orphan [email protected] (237) 77 94 18 15 Orphanage/
Finances
Peter Akote Limbe Rotarian Need phone
number
Water Projects/
Financing
John Ndukwe Rotary President [email protected] (237) 99 98 95 34 Rotary Support;
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77 86 85 77 Medical
Peter Njodzeka NGO [email protected] (237) 77 71 62 88 General Guidance
Steven Tataw Mercy‟s Nephew [email protected] 77 20 35 89 Douala/Supplies
Allen Ntoko Orphanage Staff
Member; assistant
76 21 46 18 Assist with
Maintenance
Program
Pokam Joseph Brick Maker 99 97 36 09 Burn Bricks
Christopher Boh Mason/ Elder [email protected] 75 19 54 19
79 38 57 14
Masonry Work
Oben Mbeng
Johnson
Assistant Chief of
Regional Control
77 56 00 01
96 64 40 02
Government Social
Services
Victor Njiogo
(French Speaking)
Cogeni Material
Supply Store
Employee
99 32 32 99
77 64 45 44
Supply Availability
and Pricing
Foraec Driller 99 91 11 70 Borehole Drilling
Nfor Francis
Nformi
Mercy contact 99 57 98 40 Welder
5.4 Community Health Assessment
The community health assessment was conducted by the travel team in order to have a
baseline health status for the children and staff at the Rhema Grace Orphanage by which
to judge the success of current and future development projects carried out by EWB-
UAA. The assessment had three parts: community census, community resources and
health education.
The community census entailed gathering information about the children and staff at
Rhema Grace. Initially two staff members, Mary Ayuk and Gloria Besong, were
interviewed and information was recorded about the age and health of the children,
sanitation and hygiene practices at the orphanage, nutritional information and individual
children suffering from specific diseases. Gloria provided a complete list of all the
children living at the orphanage and the length of time they have been there. Ten female
and ten male children were interviewed with simple survey questions concerning overall
health, handwashing and water use practices, and the frequency of malaria symptoms and
digestive issues. Malaria is common in the area. To mitigate risks involved with the
little children getting malaria and not detecting it until it may be too late, each child under
the age of eight receives malaria treatment every six months. This way the parasites that
might be accumulating in their system aren't able to develop into the fatal disease. In the
dry season, digestive conditions are much more problematic since the creek water
contaminants are a much higher concentration since the water levels are lower. The
children were asked how many times each month they have running stomach (diarrhea),
cramping or feel ill after eating or drinking. On average, the answer was twice a month.
No children were sick in the two weeks the travel group was there but this rainy season
has been extremely wet. Overall, the children seemed in good health.
To assess the community health resources available to the community the travel team met
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with a doctor at the hospital where the children are treated. Dr. Immanuel Benna is one
of two doctors who work at the Regina Passis hospital in Mutengene. He was educated
in Nigeria and has been practicing medicine for ten years. He indicated that the greatest
medical problem for children in the area is malaria. In his opinion the children at Rhema
Grace are in healthy and well fed and the staff takes good care of them. In Cameroon,
only doctors treat patients; nurses only assist doctors. Competent medical professionals
are in short supply in the area due to few training programs.
The main focus of this health study was to gather information, but educational activities
were also part of the program. The younger children participated in a handwashing
games, coloring projects and instruction. Several of the older children assisted in the air
quality testing in the kitchen by building collectors and helping to analyze results. On
future trips the team plans to take a more active education role since we now better
understand the issues the community faces and current practices and areas of
improvement.
In the next month data collected in the surveys and observations at Rhema Grace will be
interpreted by a partnership between EWB-UAA and the nursing community in
Anchorage. Plans are in progress to involve masters students of public health to develop
future surveys and educational activities.
5.5 Stove
See the 526 report for assessment of the stove constructed in this same trip in August
2010. The 526 report will be available at a later date.
5.6 Electricity
Electricity was stated as the number one need of the orphanage. This is apparent from
observing their daily activities. Electricity would allow the orphanage to pump water
whenever necessary and provide lighting for the evenings. Electricity was added to the
assessment once the need was brought up.
The group met with AES-Sonel in Limbe Cameroon to discuss the necessary steps to
have the village surveyed for electricity. AES-Sonel actually had a previous project
survey for the Orphanage. There were two options, a three phase power service or a one
phase power service. As Mercy could not afford either at the time of inquiry, her request
for services was abandoned.
Within the village of Ombe there are 70 homes that could use the electricity, not
including the orphanage. The village is less than 2 km from the nearest transmission line.
The AES-Sonel representatives had not realized the potential need for electricity in the
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village since the need for electricity all over Cameroon is extremely high. The
representative explained that the community would have to provide a letter with a list of
all interested parties explaining the need for electricity in the village in order to begin an
investigation of the project. Wesley spoke with the Quarter head and established that this
information had already been assembled. This request, including a letter and signatures
of the majority of community members, was provided to AES-Sonel. In turn, the AES-
Sonel provided a cost proposal for electrical service to Ombe (see Appendix G for
electrical request and cost proposal). Unfortunately, a meeting with the main office in
Douala could not be scheduled during the travel dates. For now, the electrical portion has
been left in the hands of the village and Mercy to proceed. We can further assess our
involvement, considering assisting within our ability and within the EWB guidelines to
facilitate the process.
5.7 Flood Control
During our trip, we observed several major rain events which generated significant run-
off through the orphanage property. It is situated adjacent to a creek, which is where
storm flows mostly drain from the property. A site map with drainage patterns was
developed, and is provided in hand-drawn form in Appendix F. If flood control is
pursued as a project, it will be developed into a site map via Auto CAD at a later time. In
general, most buildings and infrastructure are not susceptible to major flooding. Yet, the
new boy‟s dorm is located near the creek, and has already experience flooding and de-
stabilizing its foundation. Some rip-rap was installed near the edge of the building,
which will provide a temporary fix to the problem.
Several options for permanent flood control to better protect the boy‟s dorm were
assessed. Generally, they entail cutting a diversion ditch in one or two locations
upgradient of the dorm to direct flood water to the creek before it reaches the dorm. The
size, exact location and configuration of the ditch(es) need to be determined.
5.8 Mapping
See Appendix F for the survey of the Orphanage‟s property.
See Appendix G for an AutoCAD layout of the site.
See Appendix H for a hand-drawn drainage map of the site.
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6.0 PHOTO DOCUMENTATION
6.1 Water
6.1.1 Water Usage
Photo 2 (above): Contaminated water from the creek is
still used routinely for uses other than drinking, and
sometimes for drinking in the dry season or when the well
system is down.
Photo 1: The current well system is used
primarily for drinking water and bathing of
small children.
6.1.2 Current Water Supply System
Photo 3: Current system‟s generator Photo 4: Elevated 2000L storage tank
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6.1.3 Rain Catchment System
Photo 5: New Boy‟s Dorm, the best Photo 6: The “Reading Room” is a second
Option for a rain catchment system. option for a rain catchment system, when done.
6.2 Materials
Photo 8: Materials for most potential projects can
be found at several supply stores in Duoala,
including plumbing fittings and piping, as shown.
Photo 7 (left): Water tanks of various sizes are
available locally, including this 2000L tank.
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6.3 Ownership, O&M, and Sustainability
Photo 9: The orphanage‟s director, Mercy, Photo 10: Wesley Phelps oversaw training
Took a keen interest in the stove, indicating the older boys in plumbing repairs of the
taking ownership of it. Orphanage‟s existing water system.
6.4 Community Health
Photo 11: Nancy Hibbert and Kris Homerding led the Community Health Assessment, in which
training the children in proper hand-washing was emphasized.
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6.5 Stove
Photo 12: The completed stove. Photo 13: Previously, the orphanage‟s cooking
Was done completely over a 3-rock fire.
6.6 Electricity
Photo 14: Consider further assessment of getting
electrical service at the orphanage will help the
reliability of the water system, as the diesel
generator powering the system now frequently
breaks down.
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6.7 Flood Control
Photo 15; Looking upgradient from the boy‟s Photo 16: Drainage runs directly against the
Dorm, showing a moderately intense run-off. Dorm‟s foundation, but could easily mitigated
With some re-routing of the run-off..
7.0 PROJECT FEASIBILITY
Given, the information and analysis presented in Section 5, the section provides a
summary of the entire assessment, particularly providing specific recommendations for
future projects. A primary focus of the assessment was water-related issues, and several
projects are recommended to address them. The other recommendations are based on
several other issues assessed, and generally fulfill a stated need of the community (e.g.,
electricity), or fulfills an obvious need (e.g., flood control).
Potential projects recommended to consider implementing, or least merit further
assessment, are:
Rain Catchment – Given material availability, local skills, maintainability, a rain
catchment system utilizing the new roofs on one or two of the new buildings
(boys dorm and reading room) are very feasible;
Current Water System Improvements – Though the system is a good system for
supplying clean drinking water, its reliability needs improvement particularly with
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regard to maintaining the generator and distribution lines/valves, Working with
the staff and others, it is feasible to improve the system and an approach to
maintain it;
Provide water to surrounding village – Though the orphanage‟s attempt to provide
clean water to the surrounding village residents was not entirely successful,
several approaches to provide them water appear feasible. These include, but are
not limited to, providing a separate secured tap, setting up a system for villagers
to pay a nominal fee for water, and providing a new separate source of water.
Flood control – Though not considered a specific need by the orphanage, the fact
that the new boys dorm has already flooded since being constructed in 2009
should make this a priority project. Constructing diversion ditches to direct flow
which routinely direct high run-off from the building is very feasible.
Stove optimization – From testing performed shortly after the stove‟s construction
was completed, several approaches to optimizing the stove‟s performance can be
evaluated and potentially implemented, including but not limited to modifying the
flume channel to improve draft; and
Electrical service – This was partially assessed and is considered a priority need
of the orphanage. As it is a project which would benefit both the orphanage and
surrounding community, further assessment of its feasibility and EWB-UAA‟s
ability to assist with this should be further assessed.
Hand pump – At this time, a hand pump is not recommended to either replace or
augment the current electrical pump system. This is due to not being able to have
dual hand pump/electrical pump in the existing borehole, and the high cost
relative to providing a hand pump via a new borehole compared to improving the
reliability of the existing generator-driven system.
There is strong potential for a water project to augment the existing system. The
orphanage sees the need for a redundant source of clean water for those occasions when
the borehole system is inoperable and a source of cheap clean water would allow for
sharing with the community and set an example in the village (which is desperate for
clean water too). Several of the above potential projects would offer opportunities for the
orphanage to work cooperatively with the surrounding village, benefitting both and
reducing possible tension of the orphanage solely receiving the benefits of EWB‟s
assistance. Expanding our focus to the surrounding village would also leverage EWB‟s
and Rotary Club‟s resources to a community over 300 people.
The sustainability of the systems researched all showed promise in largest part because
the demand for clean, cheap water is so great. Materials required for all three options are
commonly available in the region as is expertise. Ecologically, this region is the second
wettest in the world so water availability is less of an issue than capturing and containing
clean water.
There are also challenges to the sustainability of each of these systems. The rainwater
capture system would not be a reliable source of water in the dry season unless very large
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tanks were employed. Of concern is the system not being used because smaller tanks
could only be used part of the year. Also there is the issue of tank contamination.
Finally, project feasibility should also consider the long-term maintenance of the projects
by the orphanage. The biggest problem facing all these project options is the lack of
disposable income of the orphanage. There is little record keeping so an accurate picture
of financial resources is hazy but the impression is that affording food is at times a
challenge so maintenance and replacement needs may be difficult. Knowing this, it is
imperative that low-maintenance approaches are taken, which can be maintained
routinely by the orphanage personnel with minimal cash.
8.0 LESSONS LEARNED Maintenance is probably the largest need at the orphanage in terms of infrastructure.
Improvements may be made but they have the essentials of what they need; if they can
keep it up. One of the biggest challenges is tools. The orphanage had none when we
arrived. They had to go beg through the village to borrow a wrench if they needed it to
work on the generator. We left a number of tools for them to help with maintenance and
established a locked location for their storage. Even so, the place is full of children and
keeping them from grabbing and running with anything you put down proved
challenging.
In addition, beware of low quality plumbing parts! Too many of the valves used for the
existing water system were obviously low-bid and failing after two years. We replaced a
number of valves and trained a number of the older orphans how to do simple repairs and
provided the tools.
Blocks are made and not purchased in Cameroon. An experienced block maker can
produce about 350 blocks per day.
The welders in Cameroon can do a lot with a little but do not have the capacity to cut
thick metal. Grinders and hacksaws do most of the cutting.
Quality control can be very challenging. In our case, welders stood on the plancha while
working and bent it. We were able to make it work but this may not be the case in the
future.
Performing work with EWB in Cameroon requires prudence in terms of security and
avoiding corruption or being subject to paying unnecessarily high costs for materials and
services. While our safety was never directly threatened, there were several situations
where we were asked to pay bribes. Also, in paying for certain materials or services, we
would have likely paid more given we were not native to Cameroon. Resolution of these
situations was to have our Cameroonian partners (or driver) involved in the transactions
or during any interactions with government authorities.
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9.0 MENTOR ASSESSMENT
9.1 Chuck Stilwell (Overall Assessment, except Community Health)
The assessment portion of our August 2010 trip was led by engineering student, Brittany
Barkshire, with my assistance. Other members of the travel team also contributed to
aspects of the assessment. As the mentor directly involved in most of its aspects (Kris
Homerding and Nancy Hibbert performed the Community Health Assessment), I believe
the findings of this assessment are accurate and its evaluation to be sound. I fully support
the recommendations of continued future involvement of the chapter in assessing and
implementing potential projects listed in Section 7 for the orphanage and potentially the
surrounding village.
9.2 Nancy Hibbert (Health Assessment)
As the mentor overseeing the community health assessment I, Nancy Hibbert, give my
endorsement that it was planned and executed in a professional manner. In conjunction
with healthcare professionals in Anchorage and student involvement, the surveys used for
gathering information were complied and reviewed with the assessment goals in mind.
Once the travel team arrived at the orphanage, all aspects of the health assessment were
discussed with Mercy due to the sensitive nature of some health topics and programs.
Mercy directed us to work with staff members to facilitate information gathering,
surveying and education activity implementation. I interviewed ten female children from
ages 5-17 and Kris Homerding interviewed ten male children in the same age range.
Now that the travel team is back with the health data, we will work with medical
professionals to organize and interpret the information into an established baseline. On
subsequent trips the data will be updated and reviewed to determine if the health of the
community is improving.
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APPENDICES
A. Orphanage Site Layout
B. Rain Catchment Information
C. Materials Assessment
D. Company Contact Information
E. Orphanage Site Survey
F. Orphanage Drainage Map
G. Electrical Service Demand and Cost Proposal
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A. Orphanage Site Layout
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B. Rain Catchment Information
Buildings for possible rain catchment systems:
Boy’s Dorm (top) and Reading Room (bottom)
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C. Materials Assessment
Materials of Three Local Suppliers:
Item Size *Cogeni S.A. (Douala)
*Quifeurou (Douala)
ETS Patou (Limbe)
Cement 50 kg 4,600 4,900
Imported Cement 50 kg 4,500 4,400
Plaster 12,000
Rebar (11 m length)
6 mm 1,200 950
8 mm 2,000 2,500 2,400
10 mm 3,950 3,400 3,700
Wire Bundle 1,000 1,400
Cable 8 mm, 400 m 8,500
Paint 25-30 kg 14,000-18,000 18,000
Sand 40 cubic cm 45,000
Sand Paper Sheet 300
PVC Pipe 4 m Long 4,300
PVC Fitting Varies 500-3,000 1,000-3,000
PVC Glue 1 kg 8,000
Sheet Metal Roofing Pure Zinc: 0.35 mm Alloy Zinc
3m Long 6,200 5,950 6,300
2m Long 4,200 3,950 4,400
2 m Long 3,700
Gutters 4 m Long 6,900 8,000
Gutter Hangers 500-2,000 850
Screen 1 m width 1,000
Nails 5 kg 3,500
Screws 800
Duplex Nails 1 kg 2,000
Hosing 20 mm 12,000
HDPE Tank (with valves and attachments)
2000L (4' Dia.) 390,000
3000L 460,000
5000L 900,000
Brick Molds
20x40x20 cm 17,600
20x40x15 cm 13,500
Document 522 - Post-Assessment Report
University of Alaska Anchorage
Rhema Grace Orphanage, Cameroon
Cook Stove & Water Supply Assessment
© 2007 Engineers Without Borders – USA. All Rights Reserved Page 34 of 38
Item Size Timber (Limbe)
Lumber (4 m long)
2 by 1 1500
2 by 2 1200
2 by 4 1900
2 by 6 3800
4 by 4 6000
3 by 3 3500
Plywood 2 by 1.5 (m) 3700
D. Company Contact Information
Name Location Contact Notes
Cogeni S.A. Agence Beach
Douala, Cameroon Victor Njiogo 99-32-32-99
French Speaking
ETS Patou BP 772 Limbe, Cameroon
(237) 33-33-20-46 Free Delivery
Quifeurou Douala, Cameroon 33-39-30-05 French Speaking
Ste Camatel Sarl 368 rue sylvani BP 5855 Douala, Cameroon
(237) 22-03-44-14 [email protected]
Pump Distributor French Speaking
Timber Limbe Market William 77-33-53-96
Document 522 - Post-Assessment Report
University of Alaska Anchorage
Rhema Grace Orphanage, Cameroon
Cook Stove & Water Supply Assessment
© 2007 Engineers Without Borders – USA. All Rights Reserved Page 35 of 38
E. Orphanage Site Survey
Document 522 - Post-Assessment Report
University of Alaska Anchorage
Rhema Grace Orphanage, Cameroon
Cook Stove & Water Supply Assessment
© 2007 Engineers Without Borders – USA. All Rights Reserved Page 36 of 38
F. Orphanage Drainage Map
Document 522 - Post-Assessment Report
University of Alaska Anchorage
Rhema Grace Orphanage, Cameroon
Cook Stove & Water Supply Assessment
© 2007 Engineers Without Borders – USA. All Rights Reserved Page 37 of 38
G. Electrical Service Demand and Cost Proposal
Document 522 - Post-Assessment Report
University of Alaska Anchorage
Rhema Grace Orphanage, Cameroon
Cook Stove & Water Supply Assessment
© 2007 Engineers Without Borders – USA. All Rights Reserved Page 38 of 38