The Rain Delay

      

     The rainy season should not be under way until at least the end of
April, yet this morning we coped with our first heavy rain since our
first trip out to Kambata Tambaro nearly 11 months ago. Our
workforce, a community of farmers, was elated. An early rain seemingly
bodes well for the rest of the usually very dry season. Everyone also
got the first hour of the day off due to rain delay.  We had a very
cozy and content crew in our temporary storage room.

      Around 9 o’clock, the rains dissipated to a drizzle and work began. By
lunch, the last of the school roofing and exterior cement coating was
completed.  The rest of the day was spent hauling rock and applying
the second coat of cob. We are anticipating pouring the first floor on
as early as Thursday march 8th.

A few of the tools used in the cob prep process.

Some of the work crew sharing stories as we wait for the
weather to pass.

A Busy Day in Kololo...

We finally received the last order of corrugated today. By the end of

Monday all of the schools roofing will be finished up. And with that,

we will move a portion of the workers onto one of the final stages of

the build: the concrete floor pour.

a view from the NW side of the school while the remaining

corrugated is fastened into place.

     The last bit of serious construction is not easy, though it is still one of my favorites. As many as 14 people work in unison to constantly prepare, mix, deliver, receive and apply the cement. In a whirl of activity, classrooms take shape, and we all begin to revel in our collective accomplishment... A roof over head and a floor under foot, does wonders for envisioning the learning that will soon take place. If weather continues to hold, we anticipate completing the build in the next three and a half weeks. Not bad.

 

Andiso steadies the ladder while Matios places a sheet of corrugated. Meanwhile, a finishing coat of mud is slathered on the third tier virenda.

A Few Future Students

For the first time since I got back, a majority of the local young-ins were dawning both shirts and pants. Figured I better take photo for proof. It doesn't happen often