The project in Kalwala 3

Details

Published: Friday, 04 April 2014 21:37

Soon after the school in Kalwala had opened there was already a need for boarding facilities for the students. Some of them had to walk such large distances that it was virtually impossible to go home every day. Consequently they slept somewhere in the village from Monday till Friday and only spent the weekend at home. Sometimes the school could supply some store room but that situation was far from ideal - no bathroom, no supervision, clearly a risky situation. Initially highest priority was given to a dormitory for the girls. The general feeling amongst staff and parents however was that facilities for the boys were equally important. Once again, not only for reasons of comfort and hygiene but also because these youngsters are in a phase of life in which they need supervision and guidance.

Because the total cost for dormitories, furniture and ablution blocks was substantial the foundation School Support & Beyond and the Stichting Onderwijsprojecten Zambia decided to finance and manage the project together. The resulting 'dormitory project' has a duration of 2 years and a budget of 80.000 euro. It aims at the realization of a girls and a boys dormitory, each for 36 students. Hereby one should not only think of the physical facilities but also of the organizational structure to 'make the house into a home'.

The project started halfway February. The pictures show the progress of the construction halfway April. On the floor plan it is shown from which direction the photographs have been taken (the numbering corresponds to the photographs in reading sequence; by clicking on a specific photograph this one is shown in a separate window). As can be seen from the pictures only the bedrooms are being built. Toilets and washing facilities - the ablution block - will be constructed as a separate building. Construction of the ablution block will start immediately after completion of the dorm.

Each of the dormitories consists of 9 rooms with two bunk beds. There is a main entrance in the middle and an emergency exit at each of the sides. The project is contracted by Ireen Kalwala (she is to be seen on the first picture). Ireen is the daughter of the former founder of the village. She also contributed in the construction of the teaching rooms and the labs of the school. We are happy with her contribution and share the pride that she shows on the picture below.