Building works and growing student numbers

Our student numbers have grown very fast in the last two years: In spring term 2015 we had 126 students in nursery and primary classes. 78 of them were living in the orphanage. Spring term 2017 sees us with 330 students, 150 of them residents.

This is wonderful new because it means that more children are receiving shelter and an education. On the other hand it puts pressure on the school to find funding for new dormitories and school buildings. 

Our building activity since 2015 includes a new office, which is a timber construction.

For our new school building with six classrooms we used the traditional building method with sticks and mud. This gives more protection and isolation than timber but is quicker and cheaper than bricks. Our new dormitory and "hospital wing" is constructed with bricks to give the children maximum security and protection form the elements. 

While timber and other building supplies have to be transported from the next town (a good 2 hours drive), the bricks are made on site: each brick is formed with a mould then left in the sun to dry. Finally they are stacked up with an opening for firing in the middle. It is a long process and hard work, but some of our older children are skilled brick makers by now!

And sometimes some tourists have a go, too...

We need to build several more dormitories to accommodate our resident students who currently share a bed between 4 children and to keep up with growing numbers. We also need more classrooms as two of our classes still have to be taught outside.