During my first three-month challenge I leaned that the Lower Basic School in my village does not have drinking water supply. The hand pump that they had broken down and they did not have means to fix it. The school could not cover the full repair costs. So after scratching my head and talking to headmaster I decided to apply for a PC SPA (Small Project Assistance) Grant. I have visited a school in different village, which had a solar water system installed. It seemed like a perfect fit for my village school. So the same contractor after visiting us designed a system with a raised tank, solar energy powered pump and water distribution system with four taps: two in school (with soak ways) and two in school garden (with reservoirs). The total project cost was a little under $9,000.
We got our proposal approved and received money at the beginning of September. So right after I came back from Camp GAGA, I put the sleeves up ready to get my hands dirty. First tasks were to prepare the grounds – dig the soak ways and trenches for the pipe. Per agreement the community should have provided all non-skilled labor for the project. However, the community participation during the first days was nearly non-existent. Surprise!J After intense discussion with the school headmaster the helpers were waiting the following morning. The older school boys also joined the effort. They eagerly dig the trenches, fought for the shovels, knowingly used the pickaxe (pikaso in Mandinka) so we managed to finish most of the trench work in one day. Most of the work was finished in three weeks before my travels (pict below). 
Measuring the soak way location
Our helpers
Working in full speed
Work is finished, phew…We dug around 100 m long trench in same day. Great team work!
Taking a break under mango tree. Soo HOT!
Ebrima and Bakary mixing the concrete for the two reservoirs in the garden.
Bakary and Mosalif preparing the reservoir foundation in the garden.
Mosalif is constructing the garden reservoirs.
Mosalif is constructing the soak way next to the tap. He is a very skillful mason!
Falou, the carpenter, with his masterpiece – frame for the concrete tap foundation.
Asasana – our entertainer and ataaya man.
Ebrima, Mosalif and Seedou (project engineer) preparing the frame for pouring the concrete.
Babukar, star helper, with finished work: tap foundation and soak way cover.
Tower arrived! Now let’s carry it to its location!
Lifting the tower over the fence. This beast was very heavy!
Putting the tower up – mission successfully completed!
The headmaster of the school, Mr. Cham, is taking a break.
Time to bring the tank up.
The most beautiful tower I have seen in the Gambia!
Seedou and Ebrima are installing pipe connections. My PC program manager, Saikou Njai, is standing in the background with the white cap.
Picture star (I have not put them here) who was constantly disturbing=entertaining me.
While I was traveling reservoirs got plastered and taps installed.
One of the school taps – almost finished. On the right – covered soak way.
Same second tap next to the kitchen.
With the team (from left): Bakary (driver), Seedou (PM and engineer), and Ebrima (my counterpart for this project, main person on the ground).
Unfortunately I am not able to observe the completion of the project but I hope to see it working in a full force when I am back. The people I worked with were wonderful! I got to know the children in my and surrounding villages. Now I hear more ‘Fatou’ instead of ‘toubaab’, which makes me happy! Overall, it was a challenging project but invaluable experience. The only thing that I am worried about is the caring and maintaining the system. I was assured that school will take good care of it. I only hope! Inshallah!
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