1. EWB Yale – Kikoo, Cameroon
Positive Examples
EWB Yale – Kikoo, Cameroon

2. Overview of the project
3 subprojects:
Water Distribution System for Kikoo (2007 – 2011)
Improved Latrines for Kikoo (2011)
Water Distribution System for Roh (2012)
7 trips since Jan, 2007 – maximum of 17 months between trips
I reviewed documents relating to 5 of the trips

3. What can we learn? (1) Don’t bite off more than you can chew:
Kikoo = 1,000 people, ~10 km sq (3.8 mi sq)
Make sure the village is involved and excited
Water Committee = 27 people – pretty high representation
Even before EWB got involved, the village had started clearing and excavating the water catchment area, and had raised ~$1,000
Village provided 5% of cost + unskilled labor

4. What can we learn? (2) Find (skilled) people that the village trusts
Project was initially requested by the Catholic Church
The project hired skilled stone masons from the region to implement the designs
In order to pay the masons, a bank account was set up with the Church:
(EWB transferred money to Church; Church paid masons)
Go slowly, and have a plan in mind:
The water system for 1,000 people was built over 4 years – and inspected and revised by EWB over the first 6 trips

5. What can we learn? (3) Find (skilled) people that the chapter trusts
Find lots of contacts, because people move around:
Engineers (and engineering students)
People who speak English
People who can check s – the Church officials apparently check their every day
People who are familiar with the village
Stay in touch
They ~monthly between trips, and more often leading up to trips
They also send texts to the water committee before travelling

6. What can we learn? (4)
Every trip is an opportunity to follow-up on previous work
Have the flow rates changed?
How is the water quality?
Has the system been maintained?
What problems have come up?
Are payments for maintenance being collected?
Are changes needed to the design?
Have changes been made by the villagers?
Have conditions changed on the ground?

7. What can we learn? (5)
Airfare is always the most expensive part of the budget
2 weeks/trip seemed to be about right…but be careful of when to go:
August – rainy season, everything muddy
Dec/Jan – nobody works on holidays
March – everyone was planting before the rains

8. Unresolved Issues Language Barrier
A water committee is part of the local government. How do you build trust in the government handling money?
People seemed less interested in paying/attending meetings as the project neared completion
How do you make it clear that it is not a gift?