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Extreme poverty along with health, sanitation, water, and environmental degradation plague many African villages.

Washington State University is working with local communities to improve livelihoods. Education and activities that promote health, better natural resource use, and greater crop yields have been successfully implemented. Despite strides forward, more work needs to be done.

Activities that Make a Difference

Clean Drinking Water

Wells provide clean drinking water and prevent women from walking miles with jugs and jerry cans. Wells with hand pumps costs $300 to construct.

Small Scale Irrigation

Foot-powered treadle pumps allow farmers to irrigate their crops and increase their yields. This helps feed their families and can provide income for a few non-essentials. A treadle pump kit costs $175 to equip a farmer.

Stream diversion projects can provide water to fields when a river or creek is in close proximity. WSU helps show farmers how to use the natural land countours to bring water to their fields.

Environmental Protection

Stream banks are planted with trees and terraced to guard against soil erosion. Village groups have been started to nurture and plant tree seedlings.

Improved wood stoves reduce wood use by 50% over traditional cooking spots. This uses less forest resources and also reduces time spent scavenging for cooking wood.

Other Steps

• Eco-sanitation latrines provide sanitary toilet facilities.
• Fish farms provide added protein to diet.
• Introduction of alternate crops such as honey, mushrooms, and paprika provide cash resources.