I.

II.
III.
IV.
V.

VI.
VII.

VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
XII.

Problem Statement
Mission Statement
Program Description
Target Site
A. Community Partnership
Program Breakdown
A. Integrative System Design
1. Electric/Solar
2. Water Filtration
B. Educational Workshops
C. Other Specifications
Business Model
Cost Breakdown
A. Electric/Solar
B. Water Filtration
C. Education
D. Other
E. Logistical
F. Grants in Process
Timeline
Primary Visit Logistics
Measurable Goals
Team Roles and Responsibilities
Contact Information

Updated April 28th, 2015

Problem Statement:
Lack of resources, disease, and increasing poverty are prevalent
issues in Nkambe, Cameroon. Water scarcity has become more predominant as
minimal access to water has caused families to travel up to over 12 miles just to reach
a viable water source. Accessing the water itself takes up valuable time that women
and children can be using for education. In addition, there is an opportunity for the
introduction of educational aspects of sustainability and technology. There is a chance
to alleviate the stress on resources and make a positive impact on the greater
community.
Mission Statement
The
Cameroon Empowerment Program
(CEP) strives to make a positive impact in
Nkambe and the rest of Cameroon through access to resources and sustainable
education. The team
is made of undergraduate engineering students in the national

organization
Engineers for a Sustainable World
, chapter at University of California, San
Diego. The goal of the team is to design and implement an integrative solar pump and
water filtration system that can be easily replicated in a cost-effective and sustainable
manner. In addition to the tangible system, complementary educational workshops
are crucial in the program's aim to empower the youth of the community in the field
of sustainable technology. By empowering the community through short-term and
long-term means, the ultimate goal of project replication and overall poverty
alleviation can be achieved. The
Cameroon Empowerment Program
supports the
mission and vision of the program's Cameroon community partner Farmer Tantoh of
the non-profit organization Save Your Future Association (SYFA).

Program Description
The implementation of the
Cameroon Empowerment Program
is designed to empower
the community of Nkambe through the implementation of a sustainable pump system
accompanied by educational technology workshops. With the assistance of community
leader Farmer Tantoh, a design that matches the needs of the community was
engineered. The over 5000 people will be provided with available drinking water.
Completed with planned educational workshops on sustainable technology, a wide
impact can be made. A key component to this program is the teaching of installation
of the pump system through collaborating to construct it together. This idea of
learning by doing will hopefully be ingrained in the minds of the students we will be
working with. The ultimate goal is that the integrative system will provide a short-term
alleviation and that the educational workshops will provide long-term impact via
project replicability and expansion across Cameroon. Located across the way from a
local high school, the initial physical system will provide water not just for the local
youth but for the entire city of Nkambe. The final component of the program is the
undergraduate students experience. This program provides students with the
opportunity to make an impact internationally and to utilize engineering skills in a
real-world application.
Target Site Background
Nkambe is a city in the Donga Matung Division of the Northwest region of Cameroon,
West Africa. Being one of the driest cities in the area with a fast growing population of
over 5000, the need for water is becoming more and more prevalent. Nkambe itself
has three watersheds but those have been invaded by the native species of high water
usage Eucalyptus trees. The wet seasons cause massive erosion in the area while the
dry seasons result in depleted water across the area. Being a generally
underdeveloped country, Nkambe struggles with general access to resources. The
target users are the people living in the area, primarily serving youth from local
educational institutions. The portion of Nkambe that depends on the well as the
primary source of clean and accessible water currently must retrieve water from
nearby rivers that are contaminated. The process of getting water involves bringing the
water physically from the river and boiling the water to ensure sanitary standards.

The specific site itself is located approximately 100 meters from a local school. The
well itself is 15 meters deep and the pipe casing of the well is approximately 3 which
was the previous location of a hand pump that experienced technical failure. The
proposed site of the well is approximately 10 meters from the well.

General Information:
Cameroon is located in Central Africa along the coast. In the region we will be visiting,
English is commonly spoken whereas in other parts, French is more common. The
timezone is GMT +1 or UTC +1. From San Diego, this means that in Cameroon, they are
8 hours ahead. From Chicago, Cameroon is 6 hours ahead.
Community Partnership
Our main community contact in the area is Farmer Tantoh head organizer of "Save
Your Future Association". This organization known as SYFA is a non-profit
environmental organization that seeks to promote environmental protection,
education, and community building.

Farmer Tantoh is a native of Nkambe, Cameroon. His mission to work for African
rural communities began in 1996 while he was still a student in secondary school.
Following his passion in agriculture he performed and kept accurate records of his
extensive field research, earning him the nickname, Farmer. After high school, he
attended the Regional College of agriculture where he graduated with a Higher
National Diploma as a senior agricultural technician, specialising in spring water
catchment protection and agroforestry. Despite lack of support from his government
and local council, he continued to pursue his vision for SYFA. In summer 2007, he was
5

chosen as the first participant from Africa to take part in the Summer Environmental
Programme. Organised by the Tahoe-Baikal Institute, the program took him to the
United States and Siberia in Russia to study the watersheds of the world, focusing on
lake Tahoe and Lake Baikal.
*
source: http://www.africasyfa.org/
Program Breakdown
Integrative System Design

Electric/Solar
It is a big concern that very few people in Nkambe, Cameroon have purified water
readily accessible to their households. With the knowledge that this region has
approximately ten hours of sunlight per day, the solar component of this project
becomes the best method to resolve this obstacle.
In the electrical element for this project, an array of solar panels will be used to
powered a .5 HP submersible pump. In order to decrease costs, organic solar panels
which have a lower efficiency may be used. They will still be just as effective and
encapsulate more area than typical solar panels. TWe will account for the increase in
area which should not be an issue because space is not a defining variable.

This submersible pump is intended to be placed in the well and the water will be
outputted through the wells pre-existing 3 diameter piping placed at the apex of the
wells cover. There is collaboration with UC San Diego's ENG 100D engineering class in
order to look into option sinto creating a low-cost yet effecting custom pump.
The power goal of the system is to pump water from the well into a 5-10 meter raised
5000L tank at a minimum rate of 10 gpm. From the tank, the water would move to the
next stage which involves export of water from the tank into parallel filtration systems
located closer to ground level for easy access.
Eventually there will be a specified diagram created that will contain the items by
name and manufacturer, short description, power specifications, physical area, and
more.

Water Filtration
The contaminants present in the well are not yet known but can be hypothesized
based on the pre-existing data on the region. There is a water testing kit that will be
sent with an outside student group in March who will provide a water analysis for the
project. Viruses are the main particulate that needs to be captured in this process.

The water filtration aspect of this project aims to purify the sites water from a main
storage container into personal water containers. It is composed of a BioSand filter,
which eliminates solids and pathogens by mechanical trapping, absorption and natural
7

death. After a 30 days, a biolayer will develop on the top layer of the BioSand Filter in
which residing microorganisms will consume incoming pathogens.
Additional

properties to be aware of it that the media aging will take approximately 6 to 12

months for maximum efficiency. The sand quality should be void of organic material
which can be accomplished by multiple cycles of cleaning the sand with water. In
addition sand with high salt content should be avoided; high quality sand can be found
in a rock quarry.
Educational Workshops:
Through a series of workshops, the youth of Cameroon will be exposed to low-cost
sustainable technology, specifically learning the fundamentals and technical
knowledge of an integrative solar pump-water filtration system. The target audience is
people ages to 17 to 30 interested in learning about solar pumps and other
sustainable technology.

Day 1: The Science Behind Everything: Solar Pumps & Biosand Filters
The first day will consist of an overarching explanation of the water filtration system,
explaining the mechanism behind each component.
Day 2: Solar Pump & Water Filtration Demonstration and Maintenance
The second day will be a field day where the participants will receive a demonstration
of how the solar pump-water filtration system operates with step-by-step guidance. An
instructional workshop about maintenance would follow, so that the villagers may
attend to the system themselves.
Day 3: Introduction to Sustainable Technology
The third day will have interactive and informative workshops demonstrating key
technological applications that can be utilized in the village in Nkambe, Cameroon. The
objective of this day is to motivate the local residents to integrate aspects of
sustainability into everyday tasks.
Day 4: Sanitation and Hygiene
The fourth day will focus on sanitation and utilization of technology and local materials
to pusht the idea of hygiene. Clean water goes hand in hand with this idea that can be
applicable to the entire community.
Other Specifications:
The system will be secured by a fencing with barbed wire on the top. The fence's main
purpose is to protect the site and to prevent people from accessing the water too
8

frequently. The dimensions of the fence are 2x2x2 meters. Within the perimeter there
will be a locked gate as well. The Water Management Committee will distribute water
twice a day (once in the morning and once in the evening). The 5000L tank that will be
holding the water output of the system will be raised on cement pillars. The pillars will
be 10 meters high and 20 by 25 cm thick.
Business Model:
Step 1: Create model design for integrative system
In the creation of the initial design to be implemented in the target site in Nkambe, we
are creating a standard that will be replicated throughout the region. Currently the
design has gone through many iterations and has finalized a process. The integrative
solar pump and water filtration system is designed to be attached to a pre-existing
well and output into a secure water distribution area. This low-cost sustainable system
will come with a handbook for maintenance and basic troubleshooting.

Step 2: Implement primary system in target site

Once the system design is finalized with the target site specifications, the team will be
able to visit the region and actually implement the system. This primary visit is very
important because it sets a precedent for the other systems that will soon begin their
planning stages. There is a 7 day period in which the program will commence
including both the physical system implementation and the facilitation of the
educational workshops. The most vital part of this visit is to transfer the
implementation information to the agricultural students in the area.
Step 3: Conduct post-implementation survey
The last day of the trip will be dedicated to conducting post-project surveys for the
students to review the educational workshops and test their retention of knowledge.
In addition, we will be testing the viability of the actual system and checking the water
quality, flow rate, general efficiency, and stability. This information will be vital for
possible iteration of the system design and notes for future projects under the
Cameroon Empowerment Program.
Step 4: Create viable report for potential partnerships for funding purposes
After completing the post-program survey, the team will create a report of the project
and the details of the process. In addition to noting specific components and reasons
why certain processes were used, the report will contain impact reports, important
contact information, and site-specific information. By creating a professional detailed
report, potential partnerships can be formed to bring this program to full fruition.
Partner companies and organizations will be drawn to the
Cameroon Empowerment
9

Program
not only for tax break purposes but for the opportunity for international
venture.
Step 5: Fund further implementation of systems beyond target site
After partnerships are established, there will be the need for collaboration between
professional partnerships, the home base team at UCSD, our community partner
Farmer Tantoh, and the students in the target region. Water scarcity is a national issue
so replicability is vital to reach the 20 project initiation goal by the end of 2016. by the
end of 2017, the systems should be completed. Besides capital and donations from
the partnerships, the team will continue to apply for various grants and continue the
fundraising process for the systems in Cameroon.
Financial Model
Based off the cost-transition model of Project WASH in Uganda, we are using a model
of community responsibility. This model primarily depends on an established
partnership with a community partner or governmental entity. As time goes on, there
is a donation-based or tax-based system. The primary system will be funded
completely by CEP, the outside entity. Over time as other systems become
implemented, costs on the part of CEP will decrease over time as communities take
more responsibility.
Cost Breakdown
Electric/Solar
Materials:

Quantity:

Unit:

Price:

Date:

Solar Panel

~8

~$2000-2500

Same time

Solar Panel Battery

~$500

Same time

Submersible Deep well Pump

(Built-in check valves and
comes with control box)

~$350

Same time

Tamper-Proof Screws

Pkg. of 25

$45

Anytime

Tools (Heat Gun, Wire Stripper) Various

Varies

$40

Anytime

Wires

Tube roll

$25

Anytime

Heat Shrink

48 Pieces

$5

Anytime

10

Miscellaneous

Various

Varies

$35

Varies

Total:

$3000-3500

*looking into donations for solar panels for Phase I implementation

Water Filtration
Material Cost for BSF (One Unit)
Materials:

Quantit
y:

Unit:

Price:

Per Unit:

Cost
(QuantityxPrice):

CONSTRUCTION & INSTALLATION

Concrete Container
Cement

12

$5.00

50 lb

$5.00

Sand

24

$0.30

$7.20

Small Gravel

12

$0.60

$7.20

Large Gravel

12

$0.30

$3.60

Tubing (3')

10ft

$4.57

10ft

$4.57

Securing
Tape

22yd

$4.99

$4.99

Edible oil

mL

mL

$0.00

Hose

5/8"
diameterx15f
t hose

$7.97

5/8"
diameterx15ft
hose

$7.97

3/8"
diameterx10f
t

$4.57

3/8"
diameterx10ft

$4.57

Outlet Tube

Finishing Container
Soap

275 mL

$1.47

275 mL

$1.47

Paint

can

$3.77

can

$3.77

12"x18"

$7.98

Diffuser
Sheet Metal

12"x18"

$7.98

Lid

11

Wood/Sheet
Metal

$10.00

$10.00

Inside Components
Sand

0.5 ft^3

$3.82

0.5 ft^3

$3.82

Washed
Separation
Gravel

3.25

$0.30

$0.98

Washed
Drainage
Gravel

$0.60

$1.80

Washed
Filtration
Sand

30

$0.30

$9.00

TOOLS & EQUIPMENT

Gloves

box

$15.00

box

$15.00

Dust mask

box

$7.00

box

$7.00

Steel Mold

$26.00

Wheelbarrow

wheelbarrow $35.00

Shovel

shovel

Trowel

Rubber/Woo
d Mallet

$26.00
wheelbarrow

$35.00

$6.00

shovel

$18.00

trowels

$3.00

trowel

$9.00

mallet

$5.00

mallet

$5.00

Wrenches

2-size

$3.00

2-size

$3.00

Level

level

$5.00

level

$5.00

Tape
measure

tape
measure

$10.00

tape measure

$10.00

Wire
Brush/Sand
Paper

wire brush

$3.00

wire brush

$3.00

Washing
Brush

brush

$7.99

brush

$7.99

Large Buckets

5 gal

$2.97

5 gal

$5.94

12

Small Buckets

2 gal

$1.49

2 gal

$4.47

Scissors

scissors

$2.00

scissor

$4.00

Paint Brush

paint
brushes

$1.50

brush

$4.50

Tarp

pack

$6.00

pack

$6.00

measuring
container

$9.95

measuring
container

$9.95

Measuring
Containers
Stopwatch

$0.00

Funnel

funnel

$3.00

funnel

$3.00

Wood blocks

wood blocks

$3.00

wood block

$12.00

TOTAL

277.82

Two systems

358.74

(1) syste
m cost
80.92
Education
Materials

Cost

Step-by-step procedure
manual

$10

Chlorine Bleach

$5.48

Markers

$7.59

Chalk

$2.94

Sodium Alginate

$7.49

Calcium Lactate

$6.49

TOTAL

39.99

Other
*estimations provided by community partner
No Description
Unit
1

Unit
price

Total CFA

4500

18.000

Total USD

Materials to build concrete

pillars (10m tall)
4
13

34.8

1- Iron rods for

Sittings(10mm rods)
2- Iron rods for
pillars(12mm and 6
mm rods)
3- Iron rods for Chain
beams (12 mm
rods)
4- Iron rods for
Decking (10mm
rods)
5- Binding wire in rolls
6- White wood
(boards)
7- Nails (3,4 and
5-inches)
8- Scaffolds (poles)
9- Timber 2 by 6
2
3
4
5

6
7

8
9

24
22

6500
2000

156.000
44.000

301.7
85.1

6500

39.000

75.4

8
4
23
5

4500
2000
3000
5000

36.000
8.000
69.000
25.000

69.6
15.4
133.6
48.3

4
8

2000
2000

8.000
16.000

15.4
30.9

Sand (12 ton truck)

Gravel (7 ton truck)
Cement (in bags)
Roof
1- 2by 6 timber
2- Zinc (3m)
3- Zinc nails

1
1
100

250.000
200.000
6.000

250.000
200.000
600.000

483.5
386.4
1160.5

13
12
1

2000
7000
5000

26.000
84.000
5.000

50.2
162.4
9.6

Water tank (5000L)

Transportation of tank
from Bamenda to Nkambe
Fencing with iron
poles/barb wire
1- Iron poles
2- Barb wire in roll)
3- Protecting wire in
packets

500.000

550.000

1063.8

50.000

50.000

96.7

13
2
5

18.500
50.000
20.000

240.500
100.000
100.000

465.1
193.4
193.4

Transportation of
materials to site eg wood,
zinc, wires, iron poles etc
Technical labor

Lump Sum

300.000

300.000

580.2

LS

500.000

500.000

967.1

14

10

11
12

Technical supervision(
phones calls, local
transport etc)
TOTAL
Unforeseen (20 %) of total
amount.
Grand Total

LS

500.000

500.000

967.1

3.924.500
784.900

7590.9
1518.1

4.709.400
9109.0
Frs
*
Possible adjustment of pillars to 5m instead of 10m and tank from 5000L to 3000L for
total cost decrease of about $3000.
**Estimated Total Amount Requested for Project Funding with Adjustments...

$9,000
Logistical
Plane Tickets (6)
$1,410 per ticket (round trip)
$20 bus ticket (round trip)
Total = ~$9,000
GRAND TOTAL:

$18,000
Potential Grants
The Resolution Social Venture Challenge
(Clinton Global Initiative University 2015)
Semi-Finalist,
Harrison Kamiya & Jimmy Luong
Feedback:
The initial step of this project is too costly with no immediate revenue
to be seen in the future in order for this project to be self-sustaining.
San Diego Social Innovation Challenge
(University of San Diego)
Final Round, in progress,
Harrison Kamiya and Emily Phan
Social Innovation Fund
(University of California, San Diego)
Application Submitted,
Harrison Kamiya and Emily Phan
Timeline:

Fall 2016:
Finalize specifications of design, begin ordering materials, begin logistical
confirmation.
15

Spring 2016:
Ordering of materials, distribution of funds to appropriate applications,
begin construction of stone pillars in target site.
Summer 2016:
First implementation of system in target site in Nkambe.
Summer to Fall 2016:
Form partnerships and raise more funds.
By the end of 2016:
Beginning planning process of 20 systems across Cameroon.
By the end of 2017:
Completion of additional projects across Cameroon.
Primary Visit Logistics
We will be in the general area of Nkambe for approximately 7 days, staying with a host
family for our time there. With coordination with our community partner Farmer
Tantoh, we will work together to coordinate the detailed logistics including
transportation to and from the well site and the local school. We will be able to
conduct planned workshops with the agricultural students that will be at the school
located approximately 10 kilometers from the system implementation site.
Measurable Goals
Our aim is for the solar pump system to be replicated across Nkambe. By educating
the local youth, the number of solar pump water filtration systems is a measurable
indicator of successful learning and technology. We plan for at least 20 solar pumps to
begin construction by the end of 2016. With the assistance with Peace Corps ESW
Alumnus in Cameroon, the project presents high feasibility. In the initial area, we plan
to increase time efficiency of retrieving water by 50% and to utilize an integrative solar
pump design that costs 20% less than a typical system. Water retrieval can be
measured immediately through testing of the system. The design phase formulated by
engineering students will also consist of a cost-design analysis that will compare
individual components of the system. This technical characteristic is important
because even though we will be purchasing the system through fundraising, efficient
replication requires low-cost but effective systems.
Team Roles and Responsibilities
The team, the
Cameroon Macaroons
, was established on May 14th, 2014 at
UC San
Diego
through
Engineers for a Sustainable World
. Below are the positions and
descriptions of each team member for the 2015- 2016 school year.
16

Emily Phan:
Internal Project Leader
4th year, Environmental Engineering/Marine Science Minor
David Deng:
Electrical Components Lead

4th year, Electrical Engineering

Kimberly Nguyen:
Education Lead,
ESW VP of Project Management
3rd year, Chemical Engineering
Sam Bunarjo:
Water Filtration Lead,
ESW VP of Finance
3rd year, Environmental Engineering

Executive Team:
Harrison Kamiya:
External Project Leader

Engineering Professional Mentor

Jimmy Luong:
ESW Chapter President

4th year, Environmental Engineering

Transition Process:
The current structure of the team consists of 5 core team members, the project leader
and two executive team members. Each of the 5 core team members leads each major
components including different portions of the system design, education plans, and
logistic operations. The project leader leads the entire project by organizing and
facilitating meetings, communicating with partners, maintaining a relationship with
executive team members, maintaining the team budget, and more. The project
undergraduate advisor (chapter president) and the project mentor support the project
from design to international guidance. They also provide the public connection for the
project with outside opportunities including conferences and funding sources. With
leadership succession, the project director stays part of the project to provide
executive continuity as each year progresses. When the project leader retires from the
project, one of the 5 core team members will succeed to the position of project leader.
All members of the project are committed until their individual graduation from the
university. In the case of an opening, the position description is already set and
interviews will be be conducted immediately to fill the position from the already
qualified pool of students in the parent organization of the project (Engineers for a
Sustainable World). At the end of each position turnover, a continuity report of the
project will be updated with the most current design details, contact information, list
of past and current partners, site background, and other important project
17

specifications. With the above mentioned strategy, the balance of 6 team members
and two supporting executives can remain intact and the
Cameroon Empowerment
Program
will successfully reach completion.

May 2014 to June 2015, Roles and Responsibilities

Harrison Kamiya:
Project Leader

5th year, Chemical Engineering/Business Minor

-maintains communications with community representatives and project partners
-facilitates discussion and directs team in sub-projects and quarterly goals
-management and administration of all team necessities
-oversees all project designs and processes and aids individual efforts
-responsible for incoming and future financial opportunities, maintains team budget
Paulina Nguyen:
Electrical Components Lead
2nd year, Electrical Engineering/Business Minor
-directly oversees electrical design and choice of individual components
-assists in management of funds and oversight of electrical budget
-actively seeks grant opportunities and other funding for team
-collaborates and partners in design with solar lead
-serves as secondary command in the absence of project leader
Kimberly Nguyen:
Education Lead
2nd year, Chemical Engineering
-management and organization of all educational aspects including but not limited to
workshop technology and interactive lesson plans
-lead in research into sustainable technology and real-world application to Cameroon
-assists in water filtration through design and research collaboration
-manages and updates education detailed budget
Sam Bunarjo:
Water Filtration Lead
ESW VP of Finance
2nd year, Environmental Engineering
-oversees design and concept of water filtration components and applications
-lead in all research of various filtration methods and finalization of components
-manages creation of water filtration budget and itemization
-assists in educational aspects via sustainable technology research and creation of
lesson plans
18

Emily Phan:
Operations Lead
3rd year, Environmental Engineering/Marine Science Minor
-serves as operational manager for logistics and actual application of integrative
system
-specializes in security measures and atypical technology for overall system
-main liaison for outside resources to find general support and practical advice
-collaborates and directly assists in electrical and solar design and ideation, generation
of CAD designs
David Deng:
Solar Lead

3rd year, Electrical Engineering

-runs and maintains solar design components of overall system
-head of research into solar pumps and panels including related calculations and error
probability
-oversees and manages solar detailed budget
-directly collaborates with electrical lead in overall system design

Executive Team Members:

Jimmy Luong: Director of Project Management
Peggy Ip: ESW Chapter President

19

2014-2015 Contact Information:

Name

Preferred Email

Phone Number Role

Emily Phan

emilyp721@yahoo.com

(415) 912-7375

Internal Project Leader,

Operations Lead 14-15

David Deng

d2deng@ucsd.edu

(415) 513-9247

Electrical Components
Lead, Solar Lead 14-15

Kimberly
Nguyen

kimberlykn95@gmail.com

(408) 728-1166

Education Lead

Sam Bunarjo sbunarjo@gmail.com

(650) 391-5645

Water Filtration Lead

Harrison
Kamiya

(916) 458-1474

External Project Leader,

Project Leader 14-15

harrisonkamiya@gmail.com

20

Jimmy
Luong

jluong240@gmail.com

(562) 303-4738

ESW Chapter President,

VP of Project
Management 14-15

Farmer
Tantoh

fatantoh@gmail.com

skype:
farmer.tantoh

Cameroon Community
Partner

Mario
Zuniga

mazuniga12@gmail.com

skype:
mario.a.zuniga

Cameroon Peace Corps

Member

Lydia Peri

peri.lydia@gmail.com

(775) 412-2770

SAIWI Representative

Ashley
Reives

cameroon@ewb-dc.org

(917) 974-4074

EWB DC Cameroon
Project Lead

Paulina
Nguyen

pnn002@ucsd.edu

(760) 429-4632

Electrical Components
Lead 14-15

Peggy Ip

ip.p.peggy@gmail.com

(916) 221-1139

ESW UCSD Chapter

President 14-15

21