Water Blogged

Vodze is a rural community located in the Adaklu district in the Volta region of Ghana. The major economic activity in the community is subsistent farming and hunting. The people are friendly and accommodating. Vodze Community School was established in 1954 by the Government of Ghana in partnership with the community. The school has not received any major development from the government since its establishment, so the community members always come together to support the school through communal labor and local materials.

Vodze School, with a current population of 152 students, lacked any source of safe water since its old borehole had stopped working long ago. Students were forced to spend hours fetching water, walking many miles multiple times per day. These missed hours in the classroom negatively affected their performance in school and made it extremely difficult for the teachers to provide a quality educational experience for the students.

The chairman of the Parents Teachers Association lamented bitterly about the dire situation and the fact that academic performance was failing and the health of the student population was also at stake due to no other option but to fetch unsafe, dirty groundwater for drinking and cleaning. The community provided labor and much of the building materials (lumber/cracked stones), which were found locally, to support the rehab of the school’s borehole. In addition, a pump was installed and PVC piping was used to deliver water to a poly tank ensuring there is plenty of safe water for all students at all times. Our implementing partner, Volunteers for Amelioration of Rural Areas, will be in charge of ensuring the success and sustainability of this life-changing project.

Thanks to the Westridge Water Warriors in California for supporting this project!