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Dear Reader,
My name is Laurence Diarra and I am entering my senior year of high school. In lieu of a typical 40 service hours, my school asks that we do a CAP (Community Action Project) in order to fulfill our service requirements. The CAP is a four year process in which a student identifies a need in their community and works hard to create a solution. The goal of CAP is to create a more meanigingful service experience that is sustainable throughout our entire high school career.
After a backpacking experience in 2014, where we were required to gather and purify our own water, I developed a deep appreciation for my ability to easily access water at home. While acclimating at the Golden Trout Camp, we learned about the solar powered Ultraviolet water purification system they used to supply water for the entire camp. Learning about this innovative system instantly kickstarted my interest in water purification. Following this influential trip, I became very interested in the different technologies available that provide potable water. Potable water, also known as improved drinking water, is water safe enough for drinking and food preparation. After researching multiple systems, and learning about the purification of water, I became interested in building a small sustainable facility in Senegal which focuses on providing the free purification of water.
Due to a familial presence in Senegal, I have grown to think of the country as a home away from home. Senegal's water crisis is often overlooked in America because it is not a primarily English speaking country. Water is one of the most important substances on earth because all plants and animals must have water to survive. If there was no water there would be no life on earth. Supplying energy and clean water can be logistically complex and expensive and over the past three years I have decided that solar powered desalination may be an efficient way to provide potable water. In the system, a solar photovoltaic panel powers pumps that push seawater through a semi-permeable membrane to remove salt and other unwanted materials. Using solar power greatly decreases the environmental impact and cost of desalination, thus optimizing the efficiency of the method.
After years of research, all of my hard work will manifest into a functioning filtration system that provides clean water for drinking, cooking, and sanitary needs for a small area in Mboro, Senegal. The biggest issue I have had thus far is access to adequate funding. The $1900 that I am raising will go towards the purchasing of an APEC Light Commercial Reverse Osmosis Water System. The System is capable of producing 360 GPD of RO water per day. In addition to the filter, the remaining of the $1900 will be put towards a small UV light for additional protection against microbial water contamination.
Regardless of whether or not you feel inclined to donate to my project, thank you for taking your time to read my story. Also, a big thank you to those of you who do decide to donate; I am eternally grateful for you help! As an aspiring Aerospace Engineer, and someone genuinely excited by helping others, the opportunity to use technology to have a positive impact on the world is extremely exciting. My family in Senegal are very dear to my heart and I would love to contribute to a community that has helped raise me to be the person that I am today. Thank you so much for your time. Stay hydrated!
Best,
Laurence
My name is Laurence Diarra and I am entering my senior year of high school. In lieu of a typical 40 service hours, my school asks that we do a CAP (Community Action Project) in order to fulfill our service requirements. The CAP is a four year process in which a student identifies a need in their community and works hard to create a solution. The goal of CAP is to create a more meanigingful service experience that is sustainable throughout our entire high school career.
After a backpacking experience in 2014, where we were required to gather and purify our own water, I developed a deep appreciation for my ability to easily access water at home. While acclimating at the Golden Trout Camp, we learned about the solar powered Ultraviolet water purification system they used to supply water for the entire camp. Learning about this innovative system instantly kickstarted my interest in water purification. Following this influential trip, I became very interested in the different technologies available that provide potable water. Potable water, also known as improved drinking water, is water safe enough for drinking and food preparation. After researching multiple systems, and learning about the purification of water, I became interested in building a small sustainable facility in Senegal which focuses on providing the free purification of water.
Due to a familial presence in Senegal, I have grown to think of the country as a home away from home. Senegal's water crisis is often overlooked in America because it is not a primarily English speaking country. Water is one of the most important substances on earth because all plants and animals must have water to survive. If there was no water there would be no life on earth. Supplying energy and clean water can be logistically complex and expensive and over the past three years I have decided that solar powered desalination may be an efficient way to provide potable water. In the system, a solar photovoltaic panel powers pumps that push seawater through a semi-permeable membrane to remove salt and other unwanted materials. Using solar power greatly decreases the environmental impact and cost of desalination, thus optimizing the efficiency of the method.
After years of research, all of my hard work will manifest into a functioning filtration system that provides clean water for drinking, cooking, and sanitary needs for a small area in Mboro, Senegal. The biggest issue I have had thus far is access to adequate funding. The $1900 that I am raising will go towards the purchasing of an APEC Light Commercial Reverse Osmosis Water System. The System is capable of producing 360 GPD of RO water per day. In addition to the filter, the remaining of the $1900 will be put towards a small UV light for additional protection against microbial water contamination.
Regardless of whether or not you feel inclined to donate to my project, thank you for taking your time to read my story. Also, a big thank you to those of you who do decide to donate; I am eternally grateful for you help! As an aspiring Aerospace Engineer, and someone genuinely excited by helping others, the opportunity to use technology to have a positive impact on the world is extremely exciting. My family in Senegal are very dear to my heart and I would love to contribute to a community that has helped raise me to be the person that I am today. Thank you so much for your time. Stay hydrated!
Best,
Laurence