Rainwater Harvesting in Rural Tanzania  REMIX 

I. ORGANIZATION INFORMATION

Name of Organization: Amizade, Ltd.                                                                            

Address: 200 Robinson Street Suite #2 Pittsburgh, PA 15213                               

Contact Person: Eric Hartman, Executive Director                                 

Phone: (412) 586-4986        

FAX: (412) 904-2598                                                           

Web Page: http://www.amizade.org                         ...

Name of Project:  Rainwater Harvesting in Rural Tanzania                                            

Total Project Budget: $60,000 (over 3 years)                                                                

Period this Funding will Cover: November 1, 2009 - October 31, 2011

Organization Mission Statement:

Amizade is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers individuals and communities through worldwide service and learning. 

II. SUMMARY OF PROJECT

Amizade will continue to create a self-sustaining volunteer/service-learning program and cooperate with a grassroots community movement to help meet the clean water needs of the region of Karagwe, Tanzania through rainwater harvesting.

III. NARRATIVE

1. Organizational Background:

Taking its name from the Portuguese word for friendship, Amizade (uhm-i-za-gee) is a Pittsburgh, PA-based nonprofit organization with a 15-year record of empowering individuals and communities through intercultural service and learning around the world. Amizade connects individuals with intercultural service opportunities in such places as:

• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Germany/Poland
• Ghana
• Greater Yellowstone Region
• Jamaica
• Mexico
• Navajo Nation
• Northern Ireland
• Tanzania
• Washington, DC

To encourage and sustain community-driven, volunteer-fueled service initiatives, Amizade integrates the best practices in service-learning with citizens' strong interest in making a difference, engaging in communities, and learning about other cultures. Departing from traditional nonprofit models, which rely heavily on grants and donations, Amizade has developed a social enterprise model as the prime driver of financial support for its efforts. Amizade recruits volunteers to participate in intercultural, community-driven service. The volunteers pay a contribution to Amizade to participate, because they are typically also experiencing a new community and new culture. This contribution covers the cost of transportation, room and board, building materials, staffing, and Amizade administration.

In addition to improving sustainability and financial stability through this social entrepreneurship model, Amizade has also embraced and implemented community voice in project selection, projection implementation, project evaluation, and continuous planning and improvement. Each community partnership is predicated on leadership from local individuals and organizations. Amizade simply identifies (or is sought by) organizations that are effectively meeting compelling needs in their communities, and then Amizade inserts human capital to support those organizations' efforts.

Throughout Amizade history, it has demonstrated an effective program model and an organizational capacity that transcends leadership and staff turnover. In the past fifteen years thousands of people from all over the world have volunteered with Amizade, and in 2008 alone, over 300 volunteers contributed over 16,014 hours of service with our community partners. In addition to Amizade's high quantity of dedicated volunteers, Amizade has continued to diversify its community partnership sites, its programming, and its general volunteer base. Beginning with one individual twelve years ago, Amizade now has eight full-time US staff positions around the world. Despite this growth and the fact that Amizade now supports eleven communities in nine different countries, Amizade continues to keep administrative costs below 20 percent.

2. Organizational Model:

Central to understanding the rationale for Amizade programming is comprehending the methods by which Amizade programming options connect paying participants with service opportunities, thus supporting community initiatives in a financially sustainable way. Volunteers come to Amizade through many different program options, which are predominantly divided among five categories:

• Customized Group Programs - Universities, high schools, service clubs, Elderhostel, and other organizations work with Amizade to develop volunteer programs to fit their specific needs, goals, and time frame. Many of these programs center around alternative spring break programming and feature activities such as having groups tutor school children on the Navajo Nation.
• Long Term Volunteer Placements - These are for individuals who want to volunteer for a period of one month or more and have some flexibility with their schedule.
• Global Service-Learning Short Courses - In a partnership with West Virginia University, Amizade offers service-learning courses in a variety of academic disciplines. Each course offers a combination of theoretical coursework with practical applications through community service. For example, during the summer of 2008, Amizade offered a course cross-listed in Political Science that was titled "The Politics of Community Development, Gender, Representation, and Sustainability." Students completed numerous reading and writing assignments that related to their intercultural service experiences in Tanzania.
• Individual Global Service-Learning Field Placements - Amizade offers Global Service-Learning Field Placements. These are academic programs through which individual students participate in academic internships, service-learning coursework, and intercultural immersion at one of Amizade's community partnership sites. Academic credits are conferred through West Virginia University.
• Global Service-Learning Semesters - Working in conjunction with West Virginia University, Amizade offers a semester-long program in International Development, Contemporary History, and Spanish in Bolivia. In addition to their academic coursework, students are placed in various internships with nonprofit organizations. Amizade plans to expand to semester-long programs in Brazil and Tanzania in 2010.

3. Project Location: Karagwe, Tanzania

Tanzania is a unique place, known throughout East Africa as an unusually peaceful nation, which is often credited to the unifying national language of Swahili. The Karagwe area of Tanzania is located in northwestern Tanzania in the Kagera Region, with Lake Victoria to its east, Rwanda to its west, Uganda to its north, and the Kigoma region to its south. Volunteers to the Karagwe area of Tanzania find themselves in a remote, mountainous town where the majority of people are farmers subsisting on less than $100 a year. Sadly-as is the case in much of Africa-the AIDS epidemic, malaria, and other health crises have touched this vibrant community in unfathomable ways. Yet, Karagwe boasts a dedicated group of community organizers, citizens, hospital staff, and church and mosque members who work side-by-side to improve people's lives throughout the region. In Karagwe, Amizade partners with two other grassroots, community-based organizations, each of which is working to better living conditions and empower people in the region:

• FADECO: Family Alliance for Development & Cooperation (FADECO) is a grassroots community organization focused on empowering local community members to support themselves economically, increasing nutrition and preventative health, and providing educational technology and resources that will lead to community-driven plans for sustainability. FADECO is the organization Amizade will partner with for the purposes of this grant proposal.
• WOMEDA: The Women's Emancipation & Development Agency (WOMEDA) focuses on increasing economic and human rights by supporting members of the community through legal procedures and training programs.

Through these various connections, Amizade has forged a solid and meaningful relationship with the community in Karagwe. In particular, Amizade's staff has worked closely with Joseph Sekiku-a highly respected community leader-to formulate and expand projects valued and needed by the local community. As the community in Karagwe grows and evolves, Amizade will continue to adapt its projects to meet the changing needs of the community.

4. Project Partner for this Proposal: FADECO

The Family Alliance for Development and Cooperation (FADECO) is a grassroots community organization focused on empowering local community members to support themselves economically, increasing nutrition and preventative health, and providing educational technology and resources that will lead to community-driven plans for sustainability. FADECO promotes sustainable energy technologies in the surrounding community specifically through the Eden Centre for Appropriate Technology. Some of these technologies include solar fruit drying to preserve perishable crops, solar cookers, fuel-saving stoves, wind energy, agro-forestry, and water harvesting systems.

FADECO was founded by Joseph Sekiku, a social entrepreneur recently chosen for a prestigious Ashoka fellowship, funded by the international organization based in Arlington, Virginia, which adapts the tenets of venture capital to social improvement schemes. By educating farmers about technology and markets, Joseph enables them to increase their profits and improve their own quality of life. FADECO is an established and trusted NGO in Karagwe that has collaborated with Amizade for the past five years on sustainable and life-changing community-driven projects.

5. Problem Statement:

During the summer of 2007, Joseph Sekiku and Amizade identified Karagwe's most vital needs. At the top of the list was the community's desperate need for greater and more efficient access to clean water. Much of Tanzania typically receives less than 800 millimeters, or 31 inches, of rainfall per year, rendering these areas arid or semi-arid. The dry season, which occurs from June to October, requires water storage for many communities in rural Tanzania, such as Karagwe. Yet, to date, there has been little funding for water assistance projects, and much of the cleanest water around-that which falls from the sky in the form of rainwater-has been left unharvested.

While water is often taken for granted in the global North, in places such as Karagwe, it is often seen as one of the most valuable commodities. As basic as it may seem, in order for the community to properly function, it requires access to clean water for crop production, bathing, cooking, cleaning, and drinking. Without clean water, communities, like Karagwe, open themselves up to outbreaks of water-borne illnesses, which can affect human well-being, as well as precious food supplies. Such diseases-like dysentery, cholera, and typhoid-count for 80% of all rural diseases in Tanzania.

The problems with access to clean water go beyond health and sanitation issues, and uniquely affect women and girls. Women in Karagwe spend an average of three hours per day carrying water to their homes from distant sources. The time women and girls spend in water transportation significantly detracts from time they could spend in school or earning a viable income.

6. Project Plan: Rainwater Harvesting

The cheapest, most simple, and most effective solution to the Karagwe water crisis-construction of water harvesting systems-allows women to dedicate more time to income-earning tasks, decreases the risk of disease from contaminated water, and provides greater access to a vital human necessity: water. Unfortunately, the simple, cost-effective, and age-old technique of rainwater harvesting has often been overlooked by large development institutions and requires the collaboration of grassroots organizations and communities with a dedication for change.

Rooftop water systems involve three primary components: catchment, conveyance, and a collection device. The catchment device is the surface that captures the rainwater. In Karagwe, the catchment is the rooftop where rainwater falls naturally. Rainwater drains down the slanted roof top to the conveyance instruments, or gutters, at the base of the roof. These gutters transport the water from the rooftop to the collection device, a large ferrocement cistern. The rainwater is then stored in the collection device until its use.

For a regionally large public building with a roof surface area of 70 square meters and a storage tank of 15 cubic meters, the following materials are necessary to complete a rainwater harvesting system:

Mason works: Cement                            20 bags @ USD 25 = USD$ 500

Wield mesh                                                    15 pcs @ USD 20 = USD $ 300

Gutters                                                            14 pcs @ USD 50 = USD $ 700

Fittings/ joints for the gutters              14 pcs @ USD 20 = USD $ 280

Pipes                                                                  5 pcs @ USD 60 = USD $ 300

Taps/ fittings                                                  10 pcs @ USD 5 = USD $ 50

Labor costs:                                  25% of cost of materials: = USD $ 530

Total required: = USD $ 2,660

If Amizade facilitates a group of ten in Tanzania, it can easily cover the costs of one rain water harvesting system for a large public building by collecting a community donation fee of $300 from each volunteer as part of their program fee.

A storage tank of 15 cubic meters holds almost 4,000 gallons of water. If a woman can carry 5 gallons of water per day, then one storage tank can hold the water it would take her over 2 years to carry. If she spends 3 hours per day carrying this water, a storage tank near the home can save her 2,400 hours of water transport, which results in 2,400 more hours to do other tasks, such as entrepreneurial activities, daily cooking, cleaning, child care, and schoolwork. If she spends even half of those 2,400 on work that earns even $0.50 per hour of income, this extra time can result in $600 of income for this woman and her family. 

Ideally, each building in Karagwe should possess its own water harvesting system. This would maximize the benefits of rainwater and provide adequate access to water for all members of the community.  In order for Amizade and FADECO to work toward this project goal, Amizade needs to have a full-time staff member in Africa to help coordinate the logistics of the program and organize local volunteers, and a part-time staff member in the US to recruit global volunteers. However, Amizade currently lacks the financial resources to hire two new staff members. With the assistance of Africa Rural Connect and other funders, Amizade will be able to hire these two staff members, who will be able to recruit a critical mass of volunteers. As the program grows, these staff positions will be self-supported by program fees. In addition, participant fees will be able to cover the costs of materials for these water-harvesting systems, thus dually increasing the number of volunteers serving and the number of water harvesting systems constructed.

Amizade's social entrepreneurship model for supporting civic engagement and service offers a strong alternative to organizational existence predicated purely or primarily on grants and donations. What this grant would provide is an opportunity to grow the current program strengths from intermittent and perhaps sometimes disjointed volunteer efforts into continuous volunteer programming that is even more strongly connected to outcomes measurement and overarching community goals. The funding possible here would provide the catalyst and opportunity to continuous programming, which will be possible under the current model, but requires seed money to bridge into that more continuous effort.

The funding generated from the sites would be saved and reinvested back into each of the specific community partner sites, to allow for and ensure the strength of this social entrepreneurship model of service into the future. Based on the projections below, which are predicated on increases in programming in all of Amizade's programming areas for each one of the sites, each site would show markedly increasing sustainability over the next two years. 

At the end of 2011, Amizade will have established, continuous, revenue-generating programming. That programming, combined with the funding captured above and re-invested into each program site and/or placed in program site-specific reserves for unanticipated market changes or other environmental challenges, will ensure that Amizade's site in Tanzania runs continuously on a social entrepreneurship model. While the social entrepreneurship model does ensure funding, it should be noted that the communities where Amizade has formed partnerships are characterized by un- and underemployment, low rates of school success, and other associated challenges. This grant, combined with Amizade's social entrepreneurship model, ensures resources and citizen engagement in these communities throughout the years to come. Once Amizade's Tanzania program becomes self-sustainable, funds from the program fees will continue to be dedicated to expanding Karagwe's water harvesting systems.

7. Measured Outcomes (2008-2009):

• Installed 6 water harvesting systems with families in Karagwe.
• Conducted meeting between Amizade Executive Director and District Water Commissioner, setting stage for ongoing water system cooperation with national government.
• Ongoing successful use of water harvesting systems by previous year recipients, including three families and one public institution, The Eden Centre for Appropriate Technology.
• Increased involvement of community around Morgantown, WV and Pittsburgh, PA in events that raise awareness about and funds for the installation of water harvesting systems, raising more than $4,000 for purchase of the water systems.
• Development of a full-time, year round volunteer in Karagwe who is helping with ongoing project improvement.
• Initiation of a semester program in conjunction with West Virginia University, confirmed to begin in spring 2010, enhancing both direct service and important learning opportunities relating to water harvesting and sustainable development.
• Introductory meeting with Nyakasimbi Secondary School, targeting them as a public institution water tank recipient for 2010.
• Introductory meeting and opportunity for information-sharing and collaboration with MAVUNO, a regional nongovernmental organization with its own funding support from within the European Union. MAVUNO focuses on water harvesting as one of its primary initiatives.

 8. Projected Measurable Outcomes (2009-2011):

2009-2010:

• Installation of a minimum of 12 additional public and private water harvesting systems.
• Continued successful operation of existing systems.
• Increased awareness regarding water systems' use and care.
• Increased awareness regarding water, sanitation, and hygiene to prevent disease.
• In the US, increased awareness of water issues and global water concerns among a minimum two-dozen partner institutions (schools, universities, civic groups).
• Minimum 40 Amizade volunteers visiting to cooperate in water system installation, education, and related activities.
• Community training sessions that will quantify community participation.

2010-2011

• Installation of a minimum of 18 additional public and private water harvesting systems.
• Continued successful operation of existing systems.
• Increased awareness regarding water systems' use and care.
• Increased awareness regarding water, sanitation, and hygiene to prevent disease.
• In the US, increased awareness of water issues and global water concerns among a minimum three-dozen partner institutions (schools, universities, civic groups).
• Minimum 60 Amizade volunteers visiting to cooperate in water system installation, education, and related activities.
• Community training sessions to quantify community participation.

Total Project Outcomes:

• Minimum of 36 water harvesting systems installed, for a total cumulative value of over $50,000 in materials alone.
• Demonstrable improvements in civic engagement in Karagwe and in the US.
• Demonstrable connections between Karagwe and the US.
• Demonstrable increases in understanding regarding water resource use and related hygienic and sanitation concerns.
• Total of 120 Amizade volunteers connecting with community partners in Tanzania to further support efforts.
• Quantified community participation and number of community members benefited by water harvesting systems.
• Use of Amizade's sustainable model of short-term intercultural service to further support efforts and ensure program's functioning beyond the third year.

IV. FINANCES

1. Budget

Currently, Amizade only runs two programs each year in Tanzania. Though our current volunteer effort helps, it does not come close to matching the need for service in the area. Thus, the purpose of this grant is to provide Amizade with the human resources to expand the number of people serving and types of programming so that we may be better able serve our partner organizations and the people of Tanzania. 

As the programs grow, these positions will be self-supported by program fees.  However, Amizade needs to run a critical mass of volunteers in order for this to happen. In 2009, Amizade plans to run programming for 40 volunteer weeks. A volunteer week equates to each week spent by a volunteer at the site. For instance, if two volunteers spend two weeks at a site, it is equivalent to four volunteer weeks. Similarly, if four volunteers each spend one week at a site, that is also equivalent to four volunteer weeks. In 2010, Amizade plans to run programming for 60 volunteer weeks. This grant will help bring clean water to the community of Karagwe, as well as assist the Amizade Tanzania program in becoming self-sufficient.

Costs Per Year:

Project Coordinator in U.S. (part-time) - $11,000

Project Coordinator in Tanzania (hire and train) - $9,000

Total - $20,000

Materials costs will be supported through volunteer program fees. The project cost described in Section 6 above indicates the materials costs for a large public building. Smaller buildings and homes are less expensive in a manner directly proportionally with roof size. While a system for a 70-square meter roof will cost approximately $2,660, a system for a 15-square meter roof will cost approximately $570. On every volunteer program with ten participating individuals, Amizade fees will generate $3,000 for materials costs.

2. Budget Narrative

Project Coordinator in U.S.- The Amizade coordinator located in Pittsburgh will work with Amizade's Executive Director and Director of Operations to raise awareness regarding global water issues and related volunteer recruitment. Furthermore, the Project Coordinator will work to develop a stronger Pittsburgh service partnership. In addition to raising awareness and volunteer recruitment, the Project Coordinator will facilitate outreach and education to regional high schools, places of worship, and civic group meetings. Measurable outcomes for the project coordinator include:

• Develop and make a minimum of 20 school presentations related to rainwater harvesting and volunteerism during the 2009-10 academic year;
• Develop evaluation forms and partnership agreements;
• Establish at least 6 schools as Amizade-Karagwe partners willing to participate in continuing awareness-raising and fundraising for water systems;
• Participate in university community engagement and study abroad fairs, representing opportunities to serve in Tanzania with Amizade.

Project Coordinator in Tanzania- The Amizade coordinator located in Tanzania will be responsible for coordinating all logistical arrangements and for formulating meaningful service projects for the community and Amizade participants. Measurable outcomes for the project coordinator include:

• Hold at least 3 community workshops on rainwater harvesting;
• Mobilize a clean-water volunteer team to assist in rainwater harvesting organizing and construction;
• Collaborate with local organizations to identify at least 3 new projects for Amizade participation;
• Secure safe and comfortable housing accommodations for all Amizade participants;
• Arrange all cultural, educational, and service activities for Amizade participants during their stay;
• Make all necessary transportation arrangements; and
• Secure all materials for water harvesting and other projects.

For more information about this project or other Amizade projects, please visit our website at www.amizade.org.

-End-