ETHOS Technical Reports

Document Type

Report

Publication Date

8-31-2006

Abstract

Justin Forzano traveled to Cameroon, West Africa to initiate collaboration with a non-government organization, the Organization for Sustainable Rural Infrastructure (OSRI). OSRI specializes in sensitizing communities on the importance of potable water as well as developing the physical and social infrastructure of developing rural communities in the South West province of Cameroon. In doing so, OSRI has constructed water supply schemes, bridges and community buildings and organized community development committees to promote social awareness. Forzano traveled to existing project sites to study the structure of rural water supply schemes and understand the importance of a completed water supply scheme and the essential role it plays in developing rural communities. Meeting with traditional chiefs and village notables allowed for a better understanding of how the people directly benefit from the implementation of a water supply scheme, from beginning studies and committee-organization to the construction of actual piping and filtration schemes. His work with OSRI allowed him the opportunity to execute feasibility studies for one water supply scheme. The feasibility studies included initiating a study of the water source, completing a topographical survey of the surrounding environment, and collecting information from the people to assess the individual needs of the community and estimate a population increase that will occur once the water supply scheme is complete. Forzano learned about the internal structure of OSRI and the problems that they currently face. A serious lack of funding prohibits OSRI from continuing to achieve its goal of promoting social justice and eliminating poverty in the South West Province of Cameroon.


Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.

 
 
 

Links