Community Problem-Solving Project
Title: The Problem We Are Solving
Student Name: [Your Full Name]
Course: [Your Course Name]
Date: 14th November 2025
Part 1: Documentation of the Problems Identified
(Neighbourhood: [Write your community or area name here])
Problem 1: Poor Sanitation, Waste Disposal, and Poor Drainage/Road
Conditions
Observation:
In several parts of my neighbourhood, piles of waste are left uncollected near homes and
gutters. Many drains are choked with plastic waste, and during rainfall, water overflows
onto roads and into houses. The poor drainage system and bad roads worsen flooding,
which leads to stagnant water and the spread of diseases such as malaria and cholera.
Interviews:
- Resident 1: “When it rains, all the rubbish from the gutters comes onto the streets. The
smell is terrible.”
- Resident 2: “The roads are so bad that water doesn’t flow properly. Sometimes we can’t
even walk without stepping in dirty water.”
Visual Evidence: [Insert Photo 1 & Photo 2 here]
Impact:
Poor sanitation and drainage lead to frequent flooding, destroy property, and expose
residents to infections. This problem affects everyone in the neighbourhood — families,
children, and traders — and reduces the overall quality of life.
Problem 2: Inadequate Security and Absence of Streetlights
Observation:
Most areas in the neighbourhood become very dark at night due to the absence of
functioning streetlights. This darkness creates fear and increases cases of theft and assault.
Interviews:
- Shop owner: “Once it gets dark, we close early because it’s unsafe.”
- Resident 3: “We need more streetlights — sometimes we hear people shouting for help,
but we can’t even see what’s happening.”
Visual Evidence: [Insert Photo 3 here]
Impact:
The poor lighting and lack of security patrols make residents feel unsafe, especially at night.
It affects business activities, limits movement after dark, and increases crime rates.
Problem 3: High Unemployment Among the Youth
Observation:
A large number of young people in the community are jobless despite completing school or
learning a trade. This leads to frustration, idleness, and sometimes involvement in petty
crime or gambling.
Interviews:
- Young graduate: “I’ve applied to many places but haven’t found any job. It’s discouraging.”
- Elderly resident: “The youth just hang around all day. Some want to work but have no
opportunities.”
Visual Evidence: [Insert Photo 4 here]
Impact:
Unemployment increases poverty and dependency. It affects family wellbeing and
community development since many young people cannot contribute economically.
Summary of Findings:
Among these problems, poor sanitation, waste disposal, and poor drainage stand out as the
most urgent and harmful. They directly threaten public health, contribute to flooding, and
cause long-term environmental damage. Therefore, this issue has been selected as the main
problem to address in the next section.
Part 2: The Problem We Are Solving
(Main Focus: Poor Sanitation, Waste Disposal, and Drainage Problems)
Page 1 – Introduction and Background
Every community needs a clean and healthy environment to thrive, but in my
neighbourhood, poor sanitation and drainage have become serious challenges. The
combination of bad roads, choked gutters, and improper waste disposal has led to repeated
flooding and outbreaks of diseases. This problem is visible across several streets, especially
after rainfall when garbage and dirty water spread into people’s homes.
Residents are frustrated by the situation. The local authorities provide bins, but waste
collection is irregular. Drains are often filled with plastic waste and stagnant water, serving
as breeding grounds for mosquitoes. These conditions affect not only health but also the
image and development of the area.
Page 2 – Why It Matters and Who It Affects
This problem matters because it affects everyone in the community:
- Children fall sick frequently due to exposure to dirty surroundings.
- Traders and market women operate in unhygienic conditions that drive away customers.
- Drivers and pedestrians struggle to move during floods.
- Families spend extra money treating illnesses caused by poor sanitation.
The poor road and drainage network makes it difficult for waste trucks to pass, causing
delays in garbage collection. During interviews, residents expressed worry that their
complaints to the assembly go unanswered. One resident said, “We feel neglected; every
rainy season, we suffer the same problem.”
Poor sanitation also damages the environment — blocked drains cause erosion, and waste
ends up in nearby water bodies, killing aquatic life. This shows the problem’s impact goes
beyond the neighbourhood.
Page 3 – Suggested Solutions and Call to Action
Solving this problem requires a combination of community participation and support from
local authorities. The following measures can help:
1. Community Clean-Up Exercises: Organize monthly clean-ups with youth volunteers and
local leaders to clear drains and collect litter.
2. Proper Waste Management: Provide enough dustbins in strategic locations and ensure
timely collection by waste companies.
3. Improved Drainage and Road Maintenance: Reconstruct blocked or shallow drains and
repair damaged roads to improve water flow during rain.
4. Public Education Campaigns: Educate residents about waste segregation, recycling, and
the dangers of littering.
5. Collaboration with District Assembly: Report persistent sanitation problems and
advocate for proper infrastructure support and enforcement of sanitation by-laws.
If the community and authorities work together, this problem can be significantly reduced.
A cleaner environment will improve public health, prevent flooding, and enhance the beauty
and livability of the neighbourhood. Solving it will make life safer and healthier for
everyone.
Photo Placement Guide
Section Caption Example
Problem 1 Figure 1: Choked drainage and littered road
after rainfall
Problem 2 Figure 2: Dark street showing absence of
streetlights
Problem 3 Figure 3: Idle youth in the community