​2024 Projects

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In November of 2023, each of Dumbeta Ward’s nine sub-villages held a meeting in which the priorities for the coming year were discussed and voted on. Each sub-village sent two representatives (one woman and one man) to a community-wide meeting held on November 18th. A list of proposed projects was developed and presented to the RVP Governing board. This list was used to develop our 2024 operating budget.

​​EMERGENCY FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS

During the first week of December, Dumbeta Ward experienced torrential rains and flooding that resulted in the loss of lives, homes, livestock, and water infrastructure. It also caused severe damage to Dumbeta Ward’s roads. In response, RVP offered the community a $10,000 emergency fund to be used to help mitigate the damage. The RVP Advisory board determined that this fund should be used to build 10 temporary bridges over the deep ravines cut by the flood waters. These ravines made it impossible for students and staff to safely reach several of the Ward’s primary schools. These bridges will also improve access to Dumbeta Dispensary and the market that villagers depend on to sell their crops.

Cost:   $7396

​​COVER OVER DISPENSARY WAITING AREA

Dumbeta Dispensary does not have an indoor waiting area. Patients waiting to see the medical staff wait on wooden benches in the Dispensary’s courtyard. Patients can wait hours to be seen on days when the clinic is busy. Ill patients and families are exposed to the equatorial sun, and, during the rainy season, torrential downpours. The community has asked for help to build a simple shelter that would include comfortable seating and cover the courtyard, protecting patients from the elements.

​Cost:  $3973

​NEW CLASSROOM BLOCK: DUMBETA PRIMARY SCHOOL

RVP constructed a classroom block at Dumbeta Primary School that added three classrooms to the school in 2021. However, with over 800 students and only seven functional classrooms, the school remains extremely overcrowded. Class sizes often exceed 100 students. There is a large body of research that shows that class size has an impact on learning. Smaller classes also increase teacher job satisfaction. RVP plans to build two more classroom blocks with three classrooms each over the next two years. This should have a significant impact on class size, teacher morale, and student achievement.

​Cost: $33,259

​​NEW CLASSROOM BLOCK: GICHBORD PRIMARY SCHOOL

Gichbord Primary School has over 400 students and only 4 classrooms. As a result, classrooms are very overcrowded. Furthermore, the existing classrooms are in poor shape and badly need of renovation. The community has prioritized building new classrooms at the school. We hope to complete this project this year.

​Cost: $33,259

​​IMPROVEMENTS TO SCHOOL SPORTS FACILITIES

​School athletics are an important part of primary and secondary education.  The sports facilities and equipment that Dumbeta Ward’s students are rudimentary and inadequate. Students play football (soccer) on an uneven and sloped field with goalposts made from sticks.  Girls play volleyball using an imaginary net.  At the request of the community RVP is planning to help upgrade the athletic facilities at Dumbeta Primary School.  In the future we hope to help the other schools improve their athletic facilities as well.

​Cost: $1000