Hanging by a thread
Before creating an inspirational environment to teach and learn in, classrooms must be safe.
Sadly many schools in Babati are in a very poor state of repair. We find classrooms with cracked wall due to either poor construction, a lack of a cement lintel or as a result of earthquake damage. The rafters that support the roof may never have been termite proofed and consequently may be totally hollow and being close to breaking, in fact they are literally hanging by a thread. In some schools the roof leaks making some parts of the classroom unusable. Glass-less windows allow the wind, rain, dust and wildlife into the classrooms, this can lead to nests of hornets, birds and bats. The uneven floors are impossible to clear and lead to tripping hazards. Classrooms like this are rate as unacceptable and in need of urgent work.
Working with the community we have rebuilt or built from scratch 56 classrooms since 2007
All of this work has been completed by local fundis (together with volunteers on occasion) using materials sourced locally and a local sign painter for beautification. By doing this we have invested hugely in the local economy.
The safe environment is not just limited to the classrooms. We also focus on the toilets and hand washing facilities (See WASH Programme), and on the kitchens where they are operational.
The school cook will traditionally cook using an open fire with pots resting on a tripod of rocks. This is hugely energy inefficient and the smoke extremely harmful to the cook. The first stage of development is to replace the tripod system with a ‘rocket stove’, which is a bricks and mud structure that encloses the heat and directs it to the bottom of the pan. In fact two pans can share the same fire. The holes for the pans are a snug fit so no heat is lost and smoke can be directed to the chimney and out of the kitchen. The top of the stove is reinforced with cement to give durability and in some cases we put a metal ring around the whole to further protect from damage. We work closely with the school cook to train them how to use the new stoves and have to manage the heat. We train them on other energy efficiencies and as a result we achieve a minimum of 50% saving on the firewood used. We encourage schools to establish tree nurseries and plant trees so that in the future they can be self reliant for their fuel. At one school we have established a biogas system that relies on cow waste to provide gas for the kitchen.
