>>> News update August 2017 <<<
This is an update of the situation at the end of July 2017 including some recent received pictures in August.
As you can see we are making great progress, but we also do realize every day more, that this is indeed a big project. We knew this of course from the start and even when you look at the Artist impression it is clear that this is not just a classroom building with some additional buildings, but when you walk around at the building site you become impressed about the full size of the project mainly because of the extensieve Dormitory building. 2 stories high, a massive building with an amazing view over the surrounding area and a great view on the Nile from a distance.
The most surprising to me is still that, although the project is big, it is more or less totally hidden because we did keep the environment as it was before we started. We have constantly focussed on preserving the trees and other vegatation at the project site as much as possible, locate all structures and buildings carefully to avoid cut down trees for no reason then just making it easier to do our work. And I do believe that we have done a great job by doing so.
The next pictures give you a good overview of the progress in the last few weeks. Enjoy.
As you can see we are making great progress, but we also do realize every day more, that this is indeed a big project. We knew this of course from the start and even when you look at the Artist impression it is clear that this is not just a classroom building with some additional buildings, but when you walk around at the building site you become impressed about the full size of the project mainly because of the extensieve Dormitory building. 2 stories high, a massive building with an amazing view over the surrounding area and a great view on the Nile from a distance.
The most surprising to me is still that, although the project is big, it is more or less totally hidden because we did keep the environment as it was before we started. We have constantly focussed on preserving the trees and other vegatation at the project site as much as possible, locate all structures and buildings carefully to avoid cut down trees for no reason then just making it easier to do our work. And I do believe that we have done a great job by doing so.
The next pictures give you a good overview of the progress in the last few weeks. Enjoy.
Infortunately the last couple of pictures are of low quality (taken with a mobile phone)
>>> News update June 2017 <<<
We are already mid June 2017 and the realisation of the project is at full speed now. Currently working at several buildings at the same time and we even started already with the perimeter wall and gate. An inspector of the Ministry of Education did visit the project site and did have some comments and want some changes of the plan. This is not very unusual (they always want to put their mark on the project) but some comments are just hard to believe or to understand and in some cases even the logic behind it is 'unclear' so to speak. Anyway we adapt those comments as much as possible and continue. The following pictures give you an impression of the project as it was at the beginning of June + a few pictures from the update of last week.
>>> News update April 11, 2017 <<<
In the last few weeks we have made great progress with the project. The Reception building is finished now.
The Admin building is (as far as it concerns the construction of the building) also ready. Still a lot need to be done in finishing it from the inside, but this will be done in the weeks to come. The Classroom building is ready too. Just last week the roof has been installed. As you can see in the pictures, we have used a different color for the roof (light green) compared the dark red for the Reception and the Admin building. By doing so, we separate the different functionalities of the project by color. This will help visitors to navigate around easily.
The Dormitory building f.e. will get a clear blue roof. Speaking about the Dormitory building; we have started already with building up the walls, currently up to window level at ground floor. The iron work for the concrete construction is however already done. This week we started with the large Multipurpose building and the preparations of the 4 homes of the teachers. As you can see, we are at full speed now. The work goes on well at the moment and we are positive about the final result, although still a lot need to be done and we are dealing with a day-to-day challenge.
2 weeks ago we did had an unexpected set back. Due to strong wind and heavy rainshowers, 3 of the separating walls between the classrooms did collaps. It was a very sad moment since it was our planning to install the roof construction the next day. When this could have been in place already, for sure the walls would not have collapsed. Anyway two days after everything was cleared and re-build and now the roof in ready too. Please enjoy the latest update in pictures below.
The Admin building is (as far as it concerns the construction of the building) also ready. Still a lot need to be done in finishing it from the inside, but this will be done in the weeks to come. The Classroom building is ready too. Just last week the roof has been installed. As you can see in the pictures, we have used a different color for the roof (light green) compared the dark red for the Reception and the Admin building. By doing so, we separate the different functionalities of the project by color. This will help visitors to navigate around easily.
The Dormitory building f.e. will get a clear blue roof. Speaking about the Dormitory building; we have started already with building up the walls, currently up to window level at ground floor. The iron work for the concrete construction is however already done. This week we started with the large Multipurpose building and the preparations of the 4 homes of the teachers. As you can see, we are at full speed now. The work goes on well at the moment and we are positive about the final result, although still a lot need to be done and we are dealing with a day-to-day challenge.
2 weeks ago we did had an unexpected set back. Due to strong wind and heavy rainshowers, 3 of the separating walls between the classrooms did collaps. It was a very sad moment since it was our planning to install the roof construction the next day. When this could have been in place already, for sure the walls would not have collapsed. Anyway two days after everything was cleared and re-build and now the roof in ready too. Please enjoy the latest update in pictures below.
There are a few more pictures we would like to show you since the building site is very nearby Murchison Falls National Park and we are surrounded by the amazing beauty of some extraordinary wildlife.
>>> News update February 17, 2017 <<<
During the last month a lot of progress at the building site. The Reception building is almost finished.
The second large building at the site; the Classroom block, has gone up to roof level, the first walls of the Admin block are set too. The foundation of the Dormitory building is almost done, so in the next weeks the concrete floor + concrete columns will follow and right after we will also start with the walls of this 2 stories high building.
The location for the teachers homes are also excavated and the foundation slopes are digged out.
You can see the progress at the following pictures.
The second large building at the site; the Classroom block, has gone up to roof level, the first walls of the Admin block are set too. The foundation of the Dormitory building is almost done, so in the next weeks the concrete floor + concrete columns will follow and right after we will also start with the walls of this 2 stories high building.
The location for the teachers homes are also excavated and the foundation slopes are digged out.
You can see the progress at the following pictures.
|
|
>>> News update January 14, 2017 <<<
The building team enjoyed 2 weeks of a well-deserved Christmas/New Year vacation but has started up again recently. This break was in many ways good. First of all; after weeks of hard work, I mean digging foundation slopes, carrying around with concrete for the foundation, doing the iron work for the foundation etc. in temperature easily going up to 30+ degrees Celsius isn’t just easy work even not for those people used to such temperatures. Above this, you should keep in mind that most of the work is done ‘by hand’ (compared to how such buildings are constructed in Europe).
So I do have a lot of respect to the work done. Because of this season and Christmas time it was good for them to be with their families. Quite a few of the workers are coming from villages in the wider area around the building site and a few even from larger cities like Gulu, which is approx. 100km away. Now after enjoying their leave they are even much more motivated to speed up the work although the temperature is still high or even higher then before Christmas.
(I checked the weather forecast for the next to weeks and it shows a straight line of sunshine and temperatures around 36 degrees Celsius.) Another great motivation and boost for them is the fact that the construction become more visible now. After weeks of working “underground” now the walls are going up. And such is always a great moment for everyone in construction work. All your hard work of the weeks before starts to pay-off. Yesterday I did receive the first pictures of the walls of the school Reception building. See below.
So I do have a lot of respect to the work done. Because of this season and Christmas time it was good for them to be with their families. Quite a few of the workers are coming from villages in the wider area around the building site and a few even from larger cities like Gulu, which is approx. 100km away. Now after enjoying their leave they are even much more motivated to speed up the work although the temperature is still high or even higher then before Christmas.
(I checked the weather forecast for the next to weeks and it shows a straight line of sunshine and temperatures around 36 degrees Celsius.) Another great motivation and boost for them is the fact that the construction become more visible now. After weeks of working “underground” now the walls are going up. And such is always a great moment for everyone in construction work. All your hard work of the weeks before starts to pay-off. Yesterday I did receive the first pictures of the walls of the school Reception building. See below.
I must say; they look amazing. Nice colour, well shaped. So, in the weeks to come there will be great progress. Windows and doors will be set and also the walls of other buildings will go up quickly now. At the same time another team is working at the foundation and ground floor level of the largest construction at the site; the 2 stories high Dormitory building. This needs a more solid construction with concrete pillars to carry the weight of the upper floor and roof. See picture. In the next two weeks this will be finished too.
In three weeks time I will visit the building premises again and I’m very much looking forward to it. Although I can visualize the building myself very well (as the designer of the project) it is always a great pleasure to see it for real.
Of course I will make then lot’s of pictures again and you can see the progress on this page.
Henk Koppelaar
Of course I will make then lot’s of pictures again and you can see the progress on this page.
Henk Koppelaar
>>> News update December 16, 2016 <<<
We are making great progress with the project. The foundations of 4 buildings are (almost) ready. Preparations for right after the Christmas / New Year break are done. Already approx. 20.000 !! Hydraform blocks are ready to start with the masonry of the Classroom building in the first week of January. We are currently 3 weeks behind schedule, but we expect that this delay can be catched in the first weeks of January.
>>> News update October 31, 2016 <<<
The truck at work at the project site. What a great blessing to have this truck.
It is amazing that we are able to take care of most of our transport needs ourselves.
It is amazing that we are able to take care of most of our transport needs ourselves.
>>> News update October 20, 2016 <<<
The team is working hard at the foundation of the Classroom block, the first Dormitory building and the Admin / Teachers quarter + School front office. The excavation of the soil at those various locations is quite a challenge but we are making good progress. The work at the foundation beams of the classroom building has started too already and we are just on planning.
There is also some less positive news. The truck - see the update of September 19 below, is still not at the site.
After leaving the harbor of Mombassa and on its way to Nairobi, the truck has unfortunately been hit by another truck. The truck could however continues its way for the time being. The damage wasn't, thanks to God, not really big but the build on crane needed some welding, and 2 tires needed to be replaced incl. a rim and some smaller issues.
They continued the journey to Kampala and did the repair there. We now soon will expect the truck to be on site.
With all the soil moving around and the start of the brick production we are in big need for the truck. We will keep you updated. in the days to come.
There is also some less positive news. The truck - see the update of September 19 below, is still not at the site.
After leaving the harbor of Mombassa and on its way to Nairobi, the truck has unfortunately been hit by another truck. The truck could however continues its way for the time being. The damage wasn't, thanks to God, not really big but the build on crane needed some welding, and 2 tires needed to be replaced incl. a rim and some smaller issues.
They continued the journey to Kampala and did the repair there. We now soon will expect the truck to be on site.
With all the soil moving around and the start of the brick production we are in big need for the truck. We will keep you updated. in the days to come.
>>> News update September 19, 2016 <<<
The truck has arrived in Mombassa and is on it's way to the NtS location
Currently the truck is picked up from Mombassa and on it's way 'home'. This is a trip of at least 4 days not counting the waiting time at the border crossing. Because you'll never know. Getting all the paperwork done - import tax, license plates, registration of the vehicle etc. - is already a challenge in itself. But anyway we are happy that the truck will now be at the site soon.
Another great achievement is that the Hydraform production plant is ready too
A large roof is constructed to protect the workers from the sunshine during the hard work. The needed watertanks for the production are almost in place and the Hydraform machine has just been moved to the final location (the picture is taken 2 minutes after putting it in place so still needs to be leveled and the floor around must be cleaned etc.) but in only a few days we can start with the production of the bricks. This is perfectly on time since the production according to the overall planning needs to start in week 40 (currently we are in week 38). At a few spots we are already digging for the right soil to be used for the production and the first test results are top- class.
The vessel with the tipper/truck half way to Mombassa.
The Vessel with the tipper/truck - see below - for our project is on it's way to Mombassa. Left Antwerp harbor August 4 and just passed today, August 21, the Suez canal currently sailing the Red See.
Expected arrival in Mombassa September 4th.
We'll keep an eye on it. :-) since this cargo is so important to us.
The vessel with the name Splendid Ace is the one within the red cornered square.
Expected arrival in Mombassa September 4th.
We'll keep an eye on it. :-) since this cargo is so important to us.
The vessel with the name Splendid Ace is the one within the red cornered square.
Today the Artist impression of the project (the final situation) is ready. Wow !
>>> News update August 17, 2016 <<<
Project website official launched
On Tuesday August 16 early in the morning our Project website has gone officially on air. 2 days later on August 17 in the evening 10:30pm we have already 132 unique visitors. What a great response. Thanks for all who have already shown their interest in the project. Now it is just a matter of finding the Donate page. To help you click here.
>>> News update August 13, 2016 <<<
Official approval of the design.
Today we did receive the message that the Architectional and Technical design is approved by the authorities.
The two needed stamps are put at the drawings so now we can actually start. Just in line with our planning.
The two needed stamps are put at the drawings so now we can actually start. Just in line with our planning.
>>> News update - August 2016 <<<
The project started !!
After months of preparation work we are now going to start with the actual realization of the project. All necessary technical drawings are done. We have planned to start laying the foundation of Phase one in mid September.
We will constantly keep you informed about the progress of the building activities at this website.
So, when you are interested, come back regularly to check out.
We will constantly keep you informed about the progress of the building activities at this website.
So, when you are interested, come back regularly to check out.
Truck for local transport funded by a Dutch truck company
A Dutch Truck Company EXA Holding/BAS Trucks offered us - for a great price - an amazing valuable truck/tipper with a build on crane for all the transport to be done during the realization of the project. They did all the necessary preparation and repair of the truck (new batteries etc. to make sure the truck can service adequate for the next few years) before going on transport to Uganda. They paid the transport from Holland to Mombassa, Kenya (the nearest harbor) including the full insurance of the truck during transport etc. We are very grateful for this and are looking forward to the arrival of the truck beginning September.
>>> News update - July 2016 <<
Hydraform machines arrived at the location
The Hydraform Brick making machine finally arrived end of July after quite a journey from South Africa to Nairobi International airport in Kenya and from there all the way up to our place. Now we can start with the setup of the production plant. In the next couple of months it will become in full production. Approx. 150.000 blocks (!!) needs to be produced. It will create a lot of work for several local workers. This is one of the great benefits of this project. It will not only be life changing for the girls that will get their education after finishing the school buildings, it will also create lots of jobs during the one and a half year building proces ahead of us.