friends of penyem bringing health, quality of life and sustainability to high-need villages in the...
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Friends of Penyem
Bringing Health, Quality of Life and Sustainability to High-Need Villages in The
Gambia, West Africa
Friends of Penyem for Education and Development, Inc.
Tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are tax deductible.
Water is fundamental for life and health. The human right to water is indispensable for leading a healthy life in human dignity.
It is a pre-requisite to the realization of all other human rights.
-The United Nations Committee on Economic, Cultural and Social Rights
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Case Study: An Urgent Need – The Situation in Penyem Village, 2005
Failure of a Water System
Two decades ago, a large U.S. donor donated funds for the installation of a deep borehole and solar-powered water system in Penyem, a rural village without plumbing or electricity in The Gambia, West Africa, population 1,400. In 2005, the pump in Penyem failed, leaving the entire village without access to abundant clean water.
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Case Study: Forming “Friends of Penyem” to Respond to the Need
Friends of Penyem is Formed
FOP founder, Brae Blackley, remained connected to the village after living in Penyem for a summer as a college student. In late 2004, she heard news of the failure of the water system’s pump and instantly understood the devastating impact. In early 2005, FOP was formed as a tax exempt non-profit to raise capital to repair Penyem’s water system and improve the quality of life for all Penyem villagers.
In 2006 and 2007, teams of FOP volunteers visited Penyem to strengthen relationships with the Village Development Committee and monitor the progress of the water system project.
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The Issues
Obstacle after obstacle prevented a quick replacement of the pump. FOP faced challenges with government customs officials, electricians, engineers, an antiquated pump design, and operating in the developing world.
Case Study: Building the Organization to Overcome the Challenges of Operating in a Developing Country
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Overcoming Challenges . . . . . . Finding a Formula for Success
Case Study: Succeeding In Bringing Water to Penyem
At Last… Success
“’We have water!!’ shouted the group of villagers who had gathered around the village’s new functioning solar-powered water system. Tears welled in the eyes of our team members and the young boys and girls splashing in the water spilling out of the tank. The women were laughing. It was the culmination of two years of emotional hard work for our team, and a pivotal moment in the daily lives of the villagers.”
Success at Last, FOP Newsletter, 12/2007
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The Next Phase: Beyond Penyem
Water a Critical Problem for Thousands of People in Many Villages, Not Just Penyem
Many solar-powered pump systems that provide access to clean and abundant water across The Gambia are failing and villages lack the necessary capital to repair them – just like Penyem.
According to the World Health Organization, over 13% of deaths in The Gambia are attributable to disease caused by poor water, sanitation and hygiene resources.
Villages lack necessary capital for major infrastructure projects.
Water is the key to health and economic development and FOP knows how to bring clean water to Gambian villages. We can change thousands of lives.
Going forward Friends of Penyem is focusing its efforts on repairing existing water systems
in high need villages 7
Repairing “Abandoned” Investments – Drastically Improving Water Access and QualityFrom . . . To. . .
Advantages of Repairing Water Systems
Decreased mortality rates
Increased health, productivity and education
More reliable sources of clean water
Easier irrigation of crops
Increased per capita income
Problems with Broken Water Systems
Higher mortality rates (especially for infants)
High disease rates and decreased productivity
High risk of water shortage
Less reliable crop irrigation
Decreased per capita income
Project Goals:
1) Replace pumps
2) Add solar panels where needed
3) Instill lifetime maintenance values and funding
The Problem/The Opportunity
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The costs of not succeeding are high.
UN health officials alarmed by cholera outbreak in west AfricaSep 27, 2005“The announcement came as Senegal's health ministry reported another four deaths from the water-borne illness over the past week, bringing the national death toll to 320 from 24,111 cases.”
• Cholera• Cryptosporidiosis • Hepatitis • Rotavirus • Schistosomiasis • Shigellosis • Typhoid fever
Water-related diseases are a growing human tragedy, killing more than 5 million people each year - 10 times the number of people killed in wars. About 2.3 billion people suffer from diseases linked to dirty water. Some 60% of all infant mortality worldwide is linked to infectious and parasitic diseases, most of them water-related.
Source: International Year of Freshwater; The Peace Corps
Recent Outbreaks Killing Hundreds in and around The Gambia
And other, less deadly, waterborne diseases creating suffering
Common Diseases Caused by Poor Drinking Water:
The Cost of Not Succeeding
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Next Targets: Focusing On High Need Villages*With a small investment, we can bring water to whole villages - dramatically
improving the daily lives of thousands of men, women and children.
Jah & Fadia Kunda, Upper River Division (1,364 pop): Replace existing obsolete pump and inverter with a new pump, controller and new cabling.
Kemoto, Lower River Division (800 pop. estimated)Village has two small storage tanks, but no pump and only one good well as other wells are contaminated with brackish water; a new 1,050Wp solar pumping system is proposed with the solar pump installed in the good well, i.e. no investment will be required for a new borehole.
Kerpateh, North Bank Division, (1500 pop. estimated): replace existing obsolete pump and inverter with a new pump, controller and new cabling.
*Excerpts from a report by GAM-Solar, FOP’s local solar- water company partner.
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Why Friends of Penyem?A Unique Opportunity For High Impact Philanthropy
Pressing NeedAddressing the most
pressing issue in one of the poorest countries n
the world
High Return Investment
A $8,500 investment can repair a > $50,000 asset, bringing clean water to
an entire village
Proven Formula FOP has the experienced
partners and reliable on-the-ground support required to
succeed11
Friends of Penyem – Managing Your Investment WellA professional organization with close connection to the projects.
Alieu Nyassi - Founder• Born and raised in Penyem
• BA, Oakland University
• HR executive in Detroit, MI •[email protected]
Brae Blackley – Founder•Founder & President, Premier Sports
•J.D., George Washington University Law School
•Visited Penyem in 2004, 2006 & 2007
•Gambian name: Nyima
Seth Blackley – Founder
• Executive Director, The Advisory Board Company
•MBA, Harvard Business School
•Visited Penyem in 2006 & 2007
•Gambian name: Kalilu, or Chief
Russell Glass – Director•CEO, Bizo Inc
•BSE, Duke University
•Visited Penyem in 2006
•Gambian name: Seedy
Robin Glass – Director•Director, Whole Health
•MPA, MBA, Harvard Kennedy School , Harvard Business School
•Visited Penyem in 2006 & 2007
Nathan Barbour – Director• Senior Associate, Croft and Bender
•MBA, Harvard Business School
•Visited Penyem in 2007
•Gambian name: Sanna
Leila Barbour– Director•Director, Terminus Securities
•MBA, Harvard Business School
•Visited Penyem in 2007
Libby Cantrill – Director• Account Manager, PIMCO
•MBA, Harvard Business School
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Enlisting Your Support
To make a donationby check (payable to Friends of Penyem)
Friends of Penyem for Education and Development, Inc.c/o Brae Blackley5133 10th St. NArlington, VA 22205
or by credit card at http://www.friendsofpenyem.com
Please consider making a donation today to these critical Friends of Penyem water projects!
$8,500 or more – Village Benefactor, Pump Station System Naming Rights
$1,000 - $8,499 – Platinum Donor, Name on Plaque at site
$500 - $999 – Gold Donor, Listing on FOP website
$200 - $499 – Silver Donor, Listing on FOP website
$50 - $199 – Bronze Donor, Listing on FOP website
Everything helps. Please contribute even if you can’t reach the premier donor levels!!
Goal: Raise $17,000 in 2009 - enough to
repair two systems by June
2011
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Friends of Penyem for Education and Development, Inc. Registered 501c3 Non-Profit. Contributions are tax deductible.
Everyone understands that water is essential to life. But many are only just now beginning to grasp how essential it is to everything in life – food, energy, transportation, nature, leisure, identity, culture, social norms, and virtually all the products used on a daily basis.
- World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.
-Dr. Thomas Fuller
Filthy water cannot be washed. African Proverb
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Friends of Penyem
Bringing Health, Quality of Life and Sustainability to High-Need Villages in The
Gambia, West Africa
Friends of Penyem for Education and Development, Inc.
Tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are tax deductible.