July 2007

EDUCATION

New Double Classroom Block at Mwaya Primary School
The Mwaya Primary School Committee made a successful application to the EU to fund a new double classroom block to replace the block that had previously collapsed. However, the community found it difficult to coordinate the building work and, in December 2006, asked for RIPPLE Africa’s assistance. RIPPLE Africa’s building team immediately started moulding the concrete bricks and constructing the block, and the structure was completed by the end of March 2007. The classrooms are large, light and airy, and provide a perfect environment for the pupils. We’ve gained a lot of experience with this building, and it’s now the template for our secondary school classrooms.

Two Temporary Double Classrooms at Kachere Primary School
Throughout most of Africa, there’s a tremendous lack of resources in all areas, and it’s very noticeable in the schools. Kachere Primary School, 7km from Mwaya, only has two double classrooms for over 900 pupils. Currently, about 400 pupils are using two very dilapidated temporary structures (see the picture below). RIPPLE Africa is providing funding to build two new temporary double classrooms, but we would like to feel that we can raise funds to build two permanent double classroom blocks in the future.

We’re Now Supporting Five Nursery Schools
We’re now supporting five nursery schools with the help of the Thompson Taraz Charitable Trust (TTCF) who are paying the teachers’ salaries. These schools are proving to be a great success, and we have some very dedicated Malawian teachers. More of our volunteers are now assisting in these nursery schools, and Sara, a volunteer from New York City, arrived at Mwaya with two huge suitcases full of toys, books and other supplies for the nursery schools.

Mazembe Nursery School Building Project
The Mazembe Nursery School is held in a dilapidated church building, and we put an appeal on our website for funding to construct a new brick-built nursery school. One afternoon, we were contacted by the Managing Director of Driven Worldwide who really liked what RIPPLE Africa is doing, and he immediately agreed to donate the full cost of constructing a new building for Mazembe Nursery School. The community has started to mould the bricks and building work will begin during August 2007.

Building Work Has Started on the New Secondary School at Kapanda
At long last, we’ve started work on our Community Day Secondary School (CDSS). RIPPLE Africa will be funding and coordinating the construction of the buildings, and the government will be paying for teachers’ salaries, textbooks, etc.

We’ve been wanting to start building this school for a long time, but it’s been so difficult to raise enough money. Thanks to a very generous donation from YorkTestCARE, we were able to commit to the building project. We’ve also had some fantastic donations from various donors towards this project, namely, Henry (who cycled in L’Etape du Tour de France) and his fiancée Teresa, Adrian and Paul (who walked Hadrian’s Wall), Jamie and Joanne (who organised a Summer Ball in August 2006), Gordon (who volunteered for us in 2006), Trust in Children, and other donors.

The school is located in a beautiful area of forest about 3km from Mwaya, and we started making the access road and clearing the site in March 2007. On our last trip during May and June 2007, a storeroom was built, and we started moulding the interlocking bricks with the brick press we bought in Zambia. A team of six people prepare the soil, mix it with the cement, and press about 420 bricks per day. It’s a very economical method of construction as over 60 bricks are made from seven wheelbarrows of soil and one bag of cement, and then very little cement is used when building the walls. We’ve started construction of the first double classroom block which we hope will be completed by November 2007. In addition, we’re building two teachers’ houses and some toilet blocks. Aleke Banda, the local MP, has contributed some of his constituency funds towards the construction of the teachers’ houses, and the community has provided burnt bricks for the foundations. The community will also be making 60,000 burnt bricks during the dry season for the foundations of future classroom blocks, teachers’ houses, offices, etc.

This is a very large and worthwhile project, and we will need more funding for additional classrooms, teachers' houses, toilets, etc., so that we can continue with the building programme. If you want an interesting project to raise money for, this could be the one for you (click here for building costs).