Macroscopic Solutions

Macroscopic Solutions to Sponsor Potable Water Project

Cameroon is found in Sub-Saharan Africa, and has limited supplies of many basic necessities, including potable water. By providing students and teachers with ample volumes of safe drinking water, they prove to have greater attention spans and motivation levels. Most importantly, the risk of falling sick due to water born illnesses and dehydration is greatly reduced.

Throughout the existence of the Governement Bilingual High School (G.B.H.S.) of Dschang, there has been no direct access to safe drinking water for the students and staff. This problem has led to increased numbers of dehydration cases and water born diseases within the school.

While serving as a Science Education Peace Corps Volunteer in Cameroon, Daniel Saftner (Co-founder of Macroscopic Solutions) and Cameroon native, Edwin Fogwe (Geography teacher at the G.B.H.S. Dschang), addressed this water-issue by raising funds from local community members and Small Project Assistance (SPA) to construct an automatic-pump well system.

Once the grant proposal was accepted by SPA, and community contributions were collected, the real work began in November of 2012. The well was dug, the water tower constructed, and the pipelines were connected. By April of 2013, enough potable water was flowing from eight separate taps to provide each student and faculty member with 1.5 liters of safe drinking water every school day (a World Health Organization standard).

Since the construction of the well, Cameroon has gone through its annual “dry season,” when the country experiences a 5-6 month dry spell. This was an experimental phase for those involved in the Hydraulic Pump Forage for G.B.H.S. Dschang project, as it was the time to learn if the well was indeed dug to a proper depth. If a well is not dug deep enough, the water level in the aquifer may be too low to refill it, ultimately limiting or completely cutting off the water supply.

By the end of the dry season, this proved to be the case. Water was no longer replenishing the well, and there was no water to be consumed by the members of the school. Macroscopic Solutions has agreed to provide financial support to dig the well deeper, to ensure the availability of safe drinking water, and to create a more sustainable future for these people.  

These types of projects often hit roadblocks. These roadblocks can be overcome with the help of people like you. For those interested in being involved in this international development project, please contact Daniel Saftner at Daniel@macroscopicsolutions.com. Use this email address to inquire about getting involved and making a contribution.  100% of the money raised goes towards this project to benefit the students and teachers of G.B.H.S. Dschang. Keep in mind that any donation helps - $5 dollars is enough to disinfect the water container for one month and $10 can replace a broken water tap.  Contributions are needed immediately to help pay for the continued digging of this well, and to help pay for the cement that supports the well’s interior.