Out of Africa - To Build a School

View from the road

The school room and S making worksheets

Washing hands before lunch

Like I said our primary reason for the trip was to encourage and help with the school project J and S are setting up which you can read about in their words here.  Kenyan building standards are something else and, J's general vision being to redeem, we spent some while removing cement that the builders had kindly splattered over the window frames, in readiness for painting. We also installed electric lights in the school room and a gutter system with tank to store rainwater from the church roof for hand and dish washing. Previously all water had to be purchased and brought in. Now only drinking water will have to be purchased, at least until the tank runs dry which it quickly will in the dry seasons. Here in Ireland we take potable water on tap for granted but there in Africa very few would have this privilege.

Sister B collecting rain water

It rained heavily just after we erected the gutter but before we fed the outlet to the tank. Dinner lady Sister B filled up all the containers she could find with water from the spout and you can see her here braving the downpour. Such is the value of water.

Our gutter system and storage tank completed

Whilst working at the school we participated in the school food prepared faithfully every day by Sister B. A typical lunch is beans and rice and the children put away vast portions this being their main meal of the day. B somehow manages to add interest to the flavour by adding maybe onion or tomato. I couldn't manage all of the portion.

The beans come mixed with dirt and sticks so have to be sorted

Mid-morning every school day B dishes out her legendary "porridge" which I suppose is a mix of various grains. For some of the kids this will be the first meal of their day. It reminded me of my childhood attempts to make "tea" by mixing builder's sand and water and adding grated chalk as "milk". The texture was gritty, like sand, and the taste bland. I manfully finished my first day's mug-full but thereafter declined much to the amusement of Sister B. On the other hand R declared every meal he participated in during the trip as being wonderful and I applaud this sentiment. He is, after all, a growing lad.

Downing B's porridge

My portion

Asked what might be the next major need for church and school, I figured it would be better loo's. At present there is a corrugated iron "shed" with two cubicles, each with sort-of tiled floor with a hole in the middle discharging into a pit beneath. For men to urinate is one thing, but how the Kenyan women often with flowing dresses or robes manage I find hard to imagine. But they do, and succeed, for this arrangement is common. Of course the children also use these loo's and perhaps do not aim quite right.  Inside there is no electric light, no loo paper (you bring your own), no window, and lots of smell. I took pains to arrange my motions to avoid times at the school.

Nap time in the main church building

After lunch the children all take a nap, giving the teachers a break to prepare for the afternoon lessons. Seeing them all on their foam mattresses reminded me of Lewis's dufflepuds asleep.

Hand wash station with our newly installed tap

You'll see our new tap in the picture above. Outside taps like this have to be locked because of the high value of water, even that collected from a dusty roof! Note the swings J designed and erected in the background.