Over the
last few months we have been slowly, oh
so very slowly, converting our container into a useable room. Initially it will be a classroom for the grade 3 children but could
Along the
way there were lots of frustrations ‘learning experiences’!
-The grinder
wasn’t up to the job, so burnt out, repeatedly.-
-We only
have power in the afternoons, normally it comes back some time between 2pm and
3pm, the workers knock off at 4pm. – so the grinder (when it was working)
welder and drill could only be used for an hour and a half most days.
 |
| Making holes |
-The paint
was ‘slopped’ around, so ended up all over the wooden floor which no one
thought to cover and I wanted to stain.
 |
| slip, slop, slap! |
 |
| Scrape and sand! |
-The windows
were fitted 90 degrees the wrong way around, so now open up and down instead of
across…. They needed some adapting to be able to stay open.
 |
| At least they open and let in light, now they are clean! |
I could go
on!
Anyway now
it’s finished I can forget about the problems and enjoy the new
classroom which is so much bigger than the small room my Grade 3s were crammed
into before. The windows may not be right, the floor not perfect but they are both a great improvement on the dark, cramped room the grade 3 were using. As I kept trying to tell myself, what
difference did a few days make to those grade 3s in the end?!
As a result of having a new classroom we also have a new library, I have a new office and we even have a spare room, for now!
 |
| Library in the old Grade 3 classroom |
The
children, teachers and I are truly grateful to everyone who helped with this
conversion. From Channel of Hope, Zambia, who gave us the container. Celtic
freight for moving container, twice! Rob
Marsden and John Fishwick for planning and designing, making window frames etc
and for everyone who works here and has put up with my nagging to get this finished.
Now, on to
the next project!
