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        Primary School and Water Supply Project in Patiseng,

                 Lesotho, August 1st to the 14^th 2011.

             

The Patiseng Primary School in Lesotho is situated in the north of the country in the Butha-Buthe district in the Kota Valley. About 30 families live in the village which hugs the foot of the Sekameng Mountain range. A blind valley surrounds the village on three sides. 120 children attending the school were crammed into two classrooms which were in a state of disrepair and severely limited the quality of education provided. The local community relies on subsistence farming. They cultivate the mountainsides which they have sculpted into a series of terraces to make as much land as possible useful for farming.  Crops like millet, cabbage, carrots and a little maize are grown and are watered by seasonal rains. These crops provide the staple diet for this vulnerable mountain community.

Part of Basotho culture requires that young boys spend most of their pre-teen years tending goats, sheep and cattle high up on the mountains where they have to forage for grazing. The annual harvest of hair from the Angora goats and wool from the sheep provides a small but badly needed cash injection to their very basic economy. Of Lesotho’s population of about two million, more than one third live in the mountains in this fashion. Here the Basotho pony is the sole means of transport. Owning one of these sturdy and amazingly sure-footed horses is a man’s prerogative, but most womenfolk can ride equally well and children learn to sit in a saddle sometimes even before they can walk.

The existing school building consisted of only two classrooms into which 120 pupils, spanning at least three grades, were crammed. The circumstances were far from ideal. The lack of office facilities further complicated the space problem, impacting directly on the quality of teaching that cuold be achieved. As with most schools in these remote rural areas, this one was also in a state of disrepair due to a lack of good maintenance over many years. The buildings suffered from broken rafters and ceilings, broken and cracked walls, windows and floors and no proper toilet facilities to cater for the hygiene needs of the children. There was a total lack of school furniture and desks. Each existing school desk was used by five pupils at once.

These conditions were exacerbated by the limited water supply to the community in general. The village suffered from a constant shortage of water since no storage facility existed whereby the run- off from the clean mountain springs could be stored. During daylight hours families had to carefully plan their collection of drinking water. They filled containers from a trickle of water on a mountainside spring.

Friends From Ireland Volunteers travelled to Lesotho in August 2011 and completed the following objectives;

 

Ø  Renovation of existing school building.

Ø  Building of a three roomed new school building.

Ø  Provision of water supply and water storage facilities to village.

Ø  Building of playground for school kids.

Ø  Provision of four new toilets at school site.

This project involved two weeks living in a camp adjacent to the school site. Temperatures ranged from -10C to +20C and living conditions were challenging for volunteers who lived in a tented camp. Kaurimbi Expeditions looked after our logistics once again and were a pleasure to work with. On behalf of the School, The Patiseng Community and all the Friends From Ireland Volunteers I would like to say a huge Thank You to all our supporters.

                 

You have all helped make this project possible.          

 

                                                                                                      

John A. Byrne

Chairman,

                          Friends From Ireland Volunteers, Sorris Sorris, Namibia Jan/Feb 2009.

The aim of this school project in Sorris Sorris, was to address the desperate state of the four hostel buildings into which the 205 pupils were crammed, replace the broken sewerage and water supply systems, renovate the kitchen and provide cooking facilities. The Damaraland region of Namibia in which this school is located is vast.  Most of the children in the region, who wish to attend school, must stay for the duration of each term. Daily travel is impossible due to the distance their homes are from the school. Thirty Friends From Ireland Volunteers arrived on the site on January 25^th and worked in very challenging conditions for two weeks. They lived in a tented camp, a short distance from the school and worked an average of twelve hours a day to complete what can only be described as a mammoth task. They ranged in age from fifteen to fifty eight and came from every walk of life. For those of you who have supported their fundraising, wether you are family, friend, acquaintance or colleague this is their story. On arrival in Sorris Sorris the volunteers got their first glimpse of their camp and the tents they would call home for the next two weeks.  The campsite was in the bush and adjacent to the dry Ugab River. As they kicked at the football sized balls of dung that lay scattered around the camp and asked  mildly curious “what animal left them behind “ they were suddenly intensly  interested when they were told, elephants. Later when Ben Van Zyl our Namibian Doctor gave them a few hints on how to avoid snakes and scorpions some of the assembled volunteers must have thought they had signed up for  the project from hell. Little did three of them know, at that stage, that they would have their very own scorpion sting to boast about when they got home, not to mention the stowaway spider..... The first day on site allowed the gang to get a sense of the tasks ahead. The project area comprised of four large hostel buildings, a dining area and kitchen area. Work commenced immediately on the first hostel with the removal of all broken windows, doors and old plumbing fittings. As the days progressed the volunteers moved on to the other three hostels and began renovating the kitchen and cooking area.  There were endless days of  filling and sanding, digging out of old pipes, removal of ceilings, painting, tiling, grouting, digging trenches for sewerage pipes, glazing, more digging for new fresh water pipes,  welding, fitting doors, chimneys, boilers, cookers, more digging and not once did anyone complain. Temperatures rose to 42 degrees Celsius, on occasion, but the gang stayed very focused. They knew, after a few days, that we would need every hour possible to complete the project.  It was so impressive to see how the project really became theirs after a few days. They were determined to finish. Brute Force and Ignorance became the rally cry for the routine early morning digging duties.   An unannounced visit by the Government Schools Inspector, accompanied by the Government Hostels Inspector was very interesting. Not sure what to expect, and possibly thinking that we were undertaking a small project, they were given a tour of the project site by Faan. They were genuinely astounded by the scale of the renovations undertaken by the FFI volunteers. They could not comprehend how people could give so much of their time, money and energy to help the children of that region. Their visit allowed us to reinforce the need for an awareness programme, among staff and pupils, to ensure that the newly renovated facilities would be properly maintained. As the days passed so too did the shyness of the kids at the school. Soon they were running around with sunglasses and baseball hats and shouting  “Slan”. Their endless laughter and good humour in the face of such challenging conditions was astounding. Some local teenagers joined our volunteers, after an appeal at the local church and our workforce grew. But still the days of  filling and sanding, digging out of old pipes, removal of ceilings, painting, tiling, grouting, digging trenches for sewerage pipes, glazing, more digging for new fresh water pipes,  welding, fitting doors, chimneys, boilers, cookers, more digging, continued. But soon everything started to come together.

 now looked like this;

                looked like this;

The Library in Gede is now finished. The guys have done a tremendous job and it opened in January 2009. This project really was a great example of what can be achieved when people work together. The determination shown by Aileen and Derek Westwood, to establish this Library, in partnership with Melinda Rees, has been fantastic. We are delighted that the funding forwarded by Friends From Ireland and the Garda Third World Fund has been pivotal in the early completion of this building. Well done to everyone who has supported this much needed project in Ireland, the U.K. and in Kenya. This Library will not only support the education of local school kids but will stock Swahili texts and publications to encourage local traditions and culture. We hope that the success of this project will lead to similar Libraries being built in neighbouring communities. Friends From Ireland will support these initiatives as best we can. We rely on our Volunteers and supporters to make these projects work.

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Electrical Re-fit and Provision 0f

Power to Ganda Dispensary

and Maternity Unit,

Ganda, Kenya,

September 2008.

We are delighted to say that the Clinic in Ganda now has power. Over the last few months we have been in contact with Community leaders in Ganda and the Kenya Power Supply Board who recently brought a supply near to the site. In 2007 three Irish girls, Katie O Sullivan, Grace O Sullivan and Suzanne O Rourke converted part of the clinic to a small maternity unit which now sees up to 30 children born there each month. The lack of power was a serious concern especially for expectant mothers arriving in labour during darkness. Bear in mind that Kenya is situated on the equator and is in darkness from roughly 6.30pm to 5.30am all year round.  After a full rewiring and electrical upgrading the lights finally went on on Monday the 29th of September 2008. A huge thanks to Silas Karisa who helped out so much with Kenya Power and all the certification we needed. Well done to all concerned in Ireland and Kenya. Another great example of people power..... This unit and its staff are saving lives thanks to you all.

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After the success of our  two previous projects in Watamu SDA School, we were delighted to be involved in the development of two practical workshops at the school site. These workshops will allow the children to learn skills such as woodwork, carpentry and sewing etc. They will ensure that the children leave school with practical skills as well as academic knowledge. They will give them a greater chance of escaping the poverty they have grown up in. We employed local tradesmenand laborers to build and help fit out the rooms.Seventeen Irish people travelled to Watamu and took part in the completion of the workshops. They put on the roof, painted the workshops, put in doors and windows and supplied the workshops with the equipment needed. They also built 6 new toilets at the school and revamped the playground attached to the infant school which has happily suffered  the attentions of so many kids over the last two years! When the project came to an end two fully equipped workshops stood on a plot that only weeks earlier had be a dumping area for waste. New tools and sewing machines were bought and the storeroom was stocked with timber to get the carpentry classes started. The dressmakers moved in straight away and were delighted to have a facility where they could work as well as teach. The Volunteers  worked through very hot and humid conditions to complete the new toilet block. Originally there were only two toilets, one each for the boys and girls. This tiny block was extended to eight units, increasing the compliment of loos to four each. This part of the project alone, provided a significant advance in the overall school hygiene situation.

    Friends  From Ireland Volunteers, Watamu, Kenya 2008.

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Secondary School Building Project,

Watamu Kenya, March 2007.

Following the renovation of the Infantclasses and the building of the  second  floor  of  the  Primary School it was decided that the SDA School in Watamu would need a Secondary School if it were to  meet  the  growing  local  demand  for  education. 

Such  an undertaking required much planning and research. With funding from Friends from Ireland, the assistance of the staff at the school and the on site work of Sue and Dave Hayward the plans were drawn up, planning permission was granted, foundations were poured and the walls were up. All within nine weeks.

The Friends From Ireland volunteers arrived in early March and joined local labour, parents and staff in the push to finish the building in two weeks.

The Secondary School consisted of five large classrooms and still required a roof, doors, windows, blackboards, chairs, desks and not to mention the small matter of painting and decorating. Work started straight away and only stopped for that most Irish of all days, St Patricks Day. In fact Friends From Ireland made history with the community of Watamu when they applied for a Police Permit and held the first ever St Patricks Day Parade in Kenya, right down the main street of Watamu. It was such great craic...... We were supported in every way possible by Damian Davis at Turtle Bay Hotel and Garry Cullen at Hemingways Resort. These projects would simply not happen if not for the support of these guys.

 The Building was finished on schedule thanks to the huge efforts made by all, parents, staff, local business, and volunteers. Frendships were formed that last to this day.

Friends From Ireland Volunteers March 2007.

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Following on the success of the Kindergarten building project in September 2006,  Friends  from Ireland,  in  association  with  the  Hilary Hunter Kenya Fund and the U.K.   Charity,   Working for the Children of Watamu undertook to fund the extension of the existing primary school at the SDA in Watamu. The extension involved the erection of a floor over the existing five classrooms, and construction of five new rooms. Staircases were constructed at either end. Thanks to the generosity of all our supporters and friends and funds remaining from the Kindergarten project we were able to employ local tradesmen and women, through the school, to work on the extension. It was completed in early 2007 and now echoes to the sound of happy kids in a safe and  secure learning environment.

These projects are making a real difference to the lives of the kids in this region of Kenya. Your continued support has given them a chance to beat the cycle of poverty, through education. 

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In September 2006, a group of 19 volunteers from all

walks of Irish life travelled to Watamu to renovate the 

Infant School and build a playground at the Watamu SDA Primary School. This infant school catered for 200 kids, from two years of age, and was in desperate need of renovation. Part of the back wall had fallen out and the roof needed to be removed and replaced. The internal walls were in a desperately dangerous condition and the entire structure was compromised through years of neglect. The building not only served as the infant classes but also acted as a place of safety for the many orphans cared for by the school.

The children in the school had nowhere to play so

we decided to build a playground beside the school.

This went down a treat with the children, most of

whom had never seen swings!

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