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SOAR’s water program is under the supervision of Victor Menkal P.
Eng., a Canadian engineer. Victor was instrumental at salvaging the water
system in Sri Lanka after the tsunami.
The
water program not only aims to treat contaminated water systems, but also
works to teach locals how to build and maintain water purification systems.
Volunteers
complete ambitious project
May 26, 2008—10 SOAR volunteers working in remote and arduous conditions
completed a one of a kind water project that will not only have a positive
impact upon the remote Guyana community where it was completed, but implications
of the project could have an impact upon developing world.
SOAR was asked to assist in the construction of a water system that would
provide clean and potable water to the RAM Center located in the remote
region of Guyana, South America. The RAM Center will be used by Remote
Area Medical (RAM) as hub of activity for their medical, dental, eye and
veterinary programs.
The engineering design and management for the project was completed by
a three person Canadian SOAR team and led by Volunteer Victor Menkal.
Upon arrival at the site the engineering team realized that a traditional
well would not be feasible due to soil conditions and suggested a system
that would pull water directly from the river. To ensure the water was
potable, the team then designed a simple device to slowly and steadily
deliver a continuous dose of chlorine to the water. The end result was
potable water from the tap.
Victor and Arthur—Victor
Menkal (foreground) and Arthur Mills find creative ways to solve problems.
When an end cap for this pipe was not available, they melted the ends
down to make it work. In remote areas, creativity is source of success.
The project to obtain clean water was completed quickly, but the team
remained in place to repair infrastructure to support the RAM Center.
Volunteers Tom Kamin and Jim Trimbly led the team during the repairs.
Under their direction, the team completed all tasks in a shorter time
than expected. So they found new tasks to complete. When the project was
complete, 10 of 10 rooms in were repaired in an abandoned bunkhouse. All
rooms had running water. All windows were repaired. Screens were placed
over windows. A kitchen was installed. Basic medical supplies were assembled.
When the team left the RAM Center it was ready to handle a medical team.
The RAM Center sign is erected by SOAR Volunteers from
left to right, Marc Bacaro, Ricki Sheldon, David Batt and Paul Maresca.
The following volunteers worked on this project:
• Rene Steinhauer (Director of SOAR)
• Victor Menkal
• Arthur Mills
• Betty Belsher
• Tom Kamin
• Marc Bacaro
• Jim Trimby
• Ricki Sheldon
• Paul Maresca
• David Batt
To learn more, read
the Blog from this expedition at: http://aidrelief.blogspot.com/.
This project has been made possible in part by local donors from the San
Francisco Bay area and through a large donation by BP Solar. BP Solar
has donated
four
panels that will provide 185 watts of electricity with each panel. The
additional power will be used for electricity in the hospital. Due to
the remote location of this site, there is no electricity available and
solar power is the only option. Thank you BP!
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Victor Menkal, a Canadian
SOAR volunteer, works with residents in Sri Lanka
to repair wells damaged by the tsunami. |
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