Bringing Improved Drinking Water to Ekumfi Egyankwa, Ghana
Water Brigades Ghana: Bringing improved drinking water to Ekumfi Egyankwa
This past December, Water Brigades Ghana implemented the newest model in its community water development program with a brigade of Penn State University and Indiana University students. For the first time, Water Brigades Ghana aimed to provide improved drinking water to an entire community. In the village of Ekumfi Egyankwa, these students constructed a community center and rainwater harvester and worked with the entire community to create a sustainable system around this new structure.
(The new “Egyankwa Water Center”. The 800 ft2 aluminum roof serves as the catchment area for collecting rainwater to fill the two polytanks seen in the back.)
About half of the students spent their week building this structure and putting together the rainwater harvesting system. The other students split up into three focus areas for community development: water quality, sustainability, and education. Water quality worked on testing local water sources and water from other rainwater harvesters to find out the levels of contamination and consider implementing further filtration processes. They also came up with and implemented a way for community members to store their clean water so as to avoid contamination. The students sold new buckets with spigots at the bottom and lids to cover the top to Egyankwa residents so that once community members have clean water, they will be able to store it without risking recontamination.
The Sustainability team had the good fortune of working closely with an excellent group of community members that make up the Egyankwa Water Committee. They had several meetings with the committee to develop a system for distributing the water from the polytanks and for providing water during the dry season. In order to have water in the dry season, Egyankwa will now purchase tanker water (treated water brought in by truck—a very common practice in this region of Ghana) and sell it to recoup the cost. By the end of the week, the group had come up with a system that will also provide revenue to be put towards the maintenance of the system and even provide a small compensation to the woman selling the water!
(The Egyankwa Water Committee with students from the PSU/IU Water Brigade at the new center.)
The Education team designed presentations to inform community members of the new water center, the system of distributing water, and the importance of the water storage buckets. Due to the small size of Egyankwa, they were able to present at each home in the community, rather than giving a lecture-style presentation to the entire community.
Thanks to the work that students from Penn State and Indiana completed on this brigade, members of the Egyankwa community now have access to improved drinking water year round! Thank you Penn State and Indiana!
All New Summer Internship Program: Competitive 4-Week Internships in July
We are excited to announce the first ever Global Brigades Summer Internship. The internship is a competitive 4-week program that will run through the month of July in Honduras, Panama and Ghana. The internship offers a unique opportunity to work alongside program leads to perpetuate community development projects between brigades and conduct research initiatives to improve programming.
Those selected, will have the opportunity to gain an in-depth look into Global Brigades as a development organization, to work on program-specific projects, to use this experience and knowledge to fulfill a research project or senior thesis, and to complement academic studies with an unforgettable on the ground experience in-country.
Interns will choose from one of our 9 skill-based programs to participate in, while also working with Program Leads to develop out their own ideas for individual projects—these projects will both help fulfill a programmatic need while allowing the intern to explore a topic or interest of his or her choice.
During the internship, students will participate in a combination of traditional brigading, help conduct research and evaluation projects, take part in education initiatives, participate in cultural exchange and community involvement, and will gain a greater understanding of our holistic model.
Why Participate in the Summer Internship Program?
- To explore your interests in international health and development in a dynamic environment; to share ideas, collaborate on new initiatives and strengthen leadership; to develop intercultural and technical programmatic skills.
- The opportunity to develop your own initiative with the support of knowledgable Program Leads.
- The ability to be a part of a cohort of future global health and international development leaders.
- The unique opportunity to see all aspects of our holistic model, to shadow staff and other programs, and to meet with community members in a more in-depth manner.
- To use this experience to help support or fulfill an academic research project or Senior Thesis.
- To truly immerse yourself in country for an extended period of time; giving you the ability to better get to know community members and their needs and to explore other brigade programs.
- To gain valuable job skills and academic experience that can help prepare you for graduate school or a career in a related field.
The internship program allows students to go far beyond the normal brigade experience by allowing interns to focus in on individual projects, to observe all facets of our in-country work, and to see what it takes to perpetuate programs toward sustainability. To cover living costs, insurance, drivers, translators and other expenses of the internship, we are asking each intern to contribute $2,500 for the month.
Student Spotlight: Brett Friedman, University of Denver
In honor of Global Brigades Month, we are bringing you a new student highlight every week. These student volunteers were nominated by our Advising Team for their dedication to GB and for going above and beyond in planning and participating on Brigades.
Who: Brett Friedman
School: University of Denver
Brigade: Medical Brigades
Nominated by: Brianna Clarke, Medical Brigades Program Advisor: Brett has been absolutely amazing to work with. Getting flights for the University of Denver group was very challenging and took a very long time but he always maintained a positive attitude and was such a pleasure to work with. He was patient, had a positive attitude, and was enthusiastic, even when he broke his arm in the middle of it all. He has run successful and creative fundraising campaigns and has led his team to incredible success in their very first year. He is a new president of a new club and has taken on the responsibility of being a leader with an incredible dedication and enthusiasm. Global Medical Brigades is thrilled that Brett will be coming down to Honduras with his group on March 18 for his first Medical Brigade.
We asked Brett: What was your most memorable Brigade experience and why? How has your Brigade experience impacted your life back home and on campus, or future career and education plans?
Student Spotlight: Priscilla Mapelli, UCLA
In honor of Global Brigades Month, we are bringing you a new student highlight every week. These student volunteers were nominated by our Advising Team for their dedication to GB and for going above and beyond in planning and participating on Brigades.
Who: Priscilla Mapelli
School: UCLA
Brigade: Medical Brigades
Nominated by: Solomiya, Medical Brigades Program Advisor: Priscilla came to Ghana the first US brigade to the new country, setting the bar high for all future groups. As an army of 59 students and doctors and with all of the energy and passion, she inspired and motivated our GB Ghana team.
We asked Priscilla: What was your most memorable Brigade experience and why? How has your Brigade experience impacted your life back home and on campus, or future career and education plans?
I am third year, pre-medical, International Development Studies major at the University of California, Los Angeles. As one of the leaders for the Medical Brigades at UCLA, I have been on four GB trips to Honduras, and one to Ghana. My most memorable Brigade experience was being made one of the chiefs for the community of Ekumfi Abuakwa, Central Region, Ghana in December 2011. The humbling experience was pivotal to my personal growth. Honestly, I cannot find the correct words to articulate my emotions at the closing ceremony. Just overwhelmingly heartwarming, and speechless. All I can say is medaase paa for reigniting that flame of hope and motivation.
Additionally, the experience reinforced my aspiration to create a positive impact on global health, as well as holistic and sustainable development, through grass-root community involvement. It further cultivated my understanding of community respect and appreciation. Moreover, it has inspired me to apply that knowledge and skill to the structural inequality in my life back home and surrounding Los Angeles area.
