The Bore Hole at Gbergu is complete
on VSO in Ghana (Ghana), 03/Oct/2012 17:26, 34 days ago
We may have been silent on the blog for some time, but we are still active in raising funds for Ghana.The coalition of Parent Teacher Associations and School Management Committees is still going strong. Ruby continues to support them. As she is now spending more time in Accra, rent for the house she has been using as a base, needs to be funded if the success of the project is to be maintained long term. We have funded the rent for 6 months to give them time to find funds for the future, or to find more sustainable accommodation for an office, meetings, and storage. They are currently storing and distributing computers recently secured from a UK charity.The coalition have been focussed on the borehole at Gbergu, financed through the generosity of the students, parents and teachers of Aylward Academy in North London. The school held a fun day which raised a significant part of the money used. They also raised money from ticket sales at their school perfromance and this money was presented to us at one of the performances, pictured below.The story of the borehole is given in pictures belowThe test drilling produces samples to show where the main drilling is likely to be most successful. One of the difficulties of drilling for water is that if the drilling does not yield what is required, it still costs money for the drilling operation. Soil samples are required to ensure the drilling is worthwhile. Soil samples are pictured below.In this case the drilling was successfulOnce the hole is capped, so the work on building a platform for the pump beginsThe drainage channel for excess water keeps the area by the pump dry.The formal handover attracted many of the villagers. Ruby is pictured to the right and was accompanied by committee members of the coalition.To be the first to use the pump is a great honour. This women was chosen by the villagers.A sign recognises the endeavours of the students of Aylward Academy. When Haydn went to the school recently to report on how their money had been used, the students were clearly moved by seeing that the villagers in this remote village in North West Ghana have taken the trouble to record their appreciation. Indeed if and when they can afford it, the villagers will erect a more permanent metal sign.A regular and reliable supply of water will enable the villagers to focus on growing more crops, selling them at market and beginning to work their way out of poverty. The borehole also releases women and children from a very long walk to collect water, Children will be able to attend school more regularly. This is our main motivation for continuing our work in Ghana.