Mali Water and Disabilities Study

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Jim Davis welding handles onto a jerry can.


Summary

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 10% of the population in most developing nations is handicapped in some manner or another. About 5% of these populations have limiting physical disabilities resulting in reduced mobility (notably transport or walking aid users and the visually impaired). Often little attention has been given to the needs of the disabled in the community when implementing new structures such as wells, hand pumps, and domestic tools. World Vision Mali's (WVM) engagement with the West African Water Initiative (WAWI) began in 2003, while WAWI was in the process of drilling and placing some 200 boreholes, handpumps and associated structures among WVM Area Development Program communities. To date, the WAWI-Mali Rural Water Project (MRWP) program is actively achieving its objectives relative to these goals. However, given increased dialogue among WAWI partners with regards to the needs of disabled persons and in the interest of exploring enhanced access and use of these facilities in served communities of Mali, WVM invited Messiah College in 2005 to join WVM in conducting an initial in-country assessment of existing conditions. Messiah's Mali and Water Disabilities Study, in partnership with World Vision Mali and with the assistance of a grant from the Conrad Hilton Foundation, seeks to accomplish this goal and improve access to WAWI facilities for people with disabilities. Within the Mali Water and Disabilities Study project, there are various sub-teams working on specific aspects of the project. These include Water Transport, Pumps and Associated Structures, Latrines and Domestic Water Use, and Statistics.

Purpose statement

  1. To conduct an assessment of the limitations and opportunities for access and use of water and sanitation facilities by disabled and elderly persons in communities served by World Vision Mali WAWI.
  2. To identify and/or develop simple, low-cost hardware and software alternatives to eliminate or reduce identified constraints in a pilot project context.
  3. To provide guidelines and recommendations to World Vision Mali and WAWI to assure effective access and use of potable water and sanitation facilities by the disabled.

Goals

  • Spring 2007
  1. Provide input into the disabilities survey to be conducted in the Tominian and San regions in Mali
  2. Review survey drafted by WVM and provide feedback
  3. Program completed survey into SPSS format to prepare for data input by WVM
  4. Assist WVM in presenting survey results during June, 2007 trip
  5. Review information gathered from the J07 trip to Mali
  6. Research already available technologies to aid people with disabilities
  7. Brainstorm possible technologies to assist in each of the three subteam areas
  • 2007-2008
  1. To translate the two survey results documents provided by World Vision Mali from French to English by the end of September 2007.
  2. To read and understand the documents, including synthesis of information and knowledge of the needs and situation of the population, by October 2007.
  3. To recruit the help of other departments, primarily statistics majors, in order to obtain a summary of the numerical research and an evaluation of the most prevalent concerns of the population, by October 2007.
  4. To use the above information to develop 3-4 research priorities for each subteam, before the end of October 2007.
  5. To obtain and construct the pump being shipped from Mali in order to have a full-scale model of the set-up to be modified, within one month of its arrival.
  6. To design and implement an adjustable resistance mechanism for within the pump, to recreate the effects of varying water-tables.
  7. To research and organize the construction of the surrounding pump area, including drainage, concrete base, and walls.
  8. To conduct background research for all research priorities from October 2007 to November 2007.
  9. To give a formal presentation from each sub-team of background research conducted for at least two research priority solutions by December 2007.
  10. To have working prototypes of at least two research priority solutions from each sub-team by May 2008.
  11. To plan and raise support for the January 2008 site visit.
  • 2008-2009
  1. To compile documentation and measurements of pump superstructure, handle redesign, bucket tipper, and latrine seat by May 2009.
  2. To create a video outlining the project that can be used in marketing forums by May 2009.
  3. To have finalized designs from each sub-team of their individual projects by May 2009.
  4. To have the statistics data compiled and published by May 2009.
  5. To research the likelihood of and interest in a Phase II of the Mali Water and Disabilities Study project by May 2009.
  6. To organize all existing documents associated with the project by May 2009.
  • 2009-2010
  1. To finish the final report by December 2009.
  2. To write a grant proposal no later than May 2010.
  3. To acquire a new advisor or two to help with our writing.
  4. To write employee requirements by May 2010.
  5. To connect with representatives from Joni Eareckson Tada's organization through the year and try to form a lasting partnership with them.
  • 2010-2011
  1. To find out if grant proposal is accepted and move on from there.
  2. To acquire a new advisor or two to help with our writing.
  3. Write employee requirements by October 2010
  4. Finalize and improve connections from Joni and Friends
  5. Create new workshop schedules and activities for different regions
  6. Create pamphlets, business plans, and tools for artisans

History

  • Proposal for project and approval conducted in S05
  • Team formed in F06 under the Water Purification Group
  • Water Transport, Pumps and Associated Structures, and Latrines and Domestic Water Use Subteams formed in F06
  • Trip to Mali for preliminary research and survey input in J07
  • Survey of people with disabilities in Tominion and San Regions conducted in S07
  • Trip to Mali in S07 to take part in survey results discussion conference
  • Mali Water and Disabilities Study is moved to the newly formed Disability Resources Group in F07
  • Trip to Mali in J08 to begin testing designs.
  • S08 Designs reassessed, prepared for S08 trip. The line of latrine seats began.
  • The S08 trip further tested designs and new implementations and began the line of metal baskets for jerry cans.
  • F08 consisted of working through time lapse photography from the previous trip and preparing new designs.
  • The J09 trip was one of our last opportunities to have a site team test our designs. A major oversight was found in the pump superstructure that is being addressed.
  • S09 Continued improving upon various designs and began working on final report.
  • Trip to Mali in S09 to wrap up current projects and acquire final data.

Team

Advisers

  • Dr. Ray Norman
  • Dr. Barbara Ressler
  • Dr. Lamarr Widmer

Water Transport

Pumps and Associated Structures

Latrines and Domestic Water Use

Statistics


Previous Team Members

Resources

The following resources are available for viewing only. Editable resources are located in DEMain and student file spaces.

  • Jones, Hazel and Bob Reed. Water and Sanitation for Disabled People and Other Vulnerable Groups: Designing Services for Improve Accessibility. Water, Engineering and Development Centre. Leicestershire, UK: Loughborough University, 2006.

Documentation

  • This is the sampling methodology used by World Vision Mali in conducting the S07 survey.
Survey Household Sampling Methodology
  • This is the final survey that was programmed into SPSS and conducted on approximately 900 housleholds in the Tominian and San Regions of Mali.
Final Survey Conducted in Mali During S07

Contact Information

For more information about this project, please contact:

For more information about this template, please read Help:Project article and Help:Template.
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