(From: "Travel Report October 2017")
On October 18, 2017, a group of 7 people left for Kenya.
The toilet block
Ton Schouten indicates in February that he wants to sponsor a toilet building at the school.
A wonderful gesture. In October there should be a beautiful building, but the building is not finished yet. Everything will be ready in November.

The second water tower
The construction of this tower has suffered a considerable delay.

The water basin
The digging is finished, now the canvas has to be placed. This is likely to take place around November 20th.

The second shadow hall
The hats for the poles are not finished on October 5th. Difficult to start placing the posts like this. But after a few calls and some strong words, everything is present.

Greenhouse
The greenhouse was transferred from Manda to Mwangwei. But unfortunately not really successful. Tom wants the greenhouse to be rebuilt, but what are the costs? Two primary schools, one in Groningen and one in Volendam are the solution for the greenhouse.

Agricultural education
The latest cultivation processes are already being introduced in Mwangwei: growing tomatoes on stone wool.

School Manda Youth Polytecnic
Of course, the whole group admired the school and talked to the school staff and the manager.

Graduation
This year (January) 38 students passed their certificate. The certificate states which one
direction they have succeeded. Parents are invited because it is also a social event.

For a more extensive report: www.stichtingmanda.nl

"For a purpose"

 After more than a month of research we can proudly announce that we found a location to build up our project. The site is located in Jhulneta, Rukum district. This year we will not build a school but a community center and integrated resource center (IRC). The reason for this is that the government already started with distributing funds to the schools that were affected by the earthquake. On our research we saw a lot of schools already restorating their buildings.

Jhulneta is located in the west of Nepal and lays on a central point where 3 districts meet; Rukum, Rolpa and Salyan. The area is affected by the civil war between the Maoists and the government 10 years ago. Because of this war a full generation could not go to school with the consequences of a less developed region in social and economical way, compared to the rest of the country.

The IRC will be build in collaboration with the Nepali NGO United Mission to Develop Nepal (UMD) and with the local people. The goal of the community center is to provide a space where the population of the 3 districts can work together to develop their future and make it better. The conference hall will make it possible to do collective research about the most suitable animal species and crops and how to take care of them in the best way, how to cultivate them and sustain them. We will also build a library, music and art center, a playground and a big sports field where competitions can be hold between the 3 districts.

In this way we want to give an alternative to fill in the youth's free time. Boredom, the lack of recreation and basic education is a big problem. With alcoholism, drug use and gambling as a result.
There will be weekly activities for the youth like football. In collaboration with UMD we will sustain more events and activities. On a long term UMD and the local population will take care of this. The playground will be completely build with recycled material .

At this point we are in Kathmandu completing all preparations necessary for the project. This will take around two to three weeks. We keep you up to date !
Small fact: since 2 weeks ago, electricity came in their village

Than we put up the first shade cloth. We had ordered two thousand square meters and only there was a roll of 70x4 meters.
Just a little too short so .......

Travelogue Kenia

Saturday 27-2

At 8:00 am the alarm clock and breakfast at 8.30.
We were picked up by James. He had all the gear, including augers, and we went out to build the shade hall. The people never saw an auger so I did my best to explain in my best Swahili.
The first five poles are standing up but it was very hot in the sun, around 40 degrees.

Monday 29-2

The poles are slightly larger than intended; 13x13 cm and 270 cm in length. And with that burning sun you have to drink a lot. The poles for the 1st shade field are standing but we need to place some in the middle.

Tuesday 1-3

After three police checkpoints, we were in the garden at 9.30. You can really see the watermelons grow.
We have placed the poles in the middle as a cube of five. So that the wires can be like a spider web. James said that the job would cost him three months.

Thursday 3-3

Again the same ritual at 7.00 am the alarm clock and then breakfast. James arrived at 8.15am and at first we went to the local Gamma to get wire and two bolts. The wire was slightly thicker than planned but at least we had something to tighten down the shade hall.
We arrived at the garden, and it was already hot. It rose to 47.9 degrees and of course the work is not done very fast. Sunburn and a hat and and working. And then you see a Kenyan walking by barefoot. Simply because they have no shoes. Than we put up the first shade cloth. We had ordered two thousand square meters and only there was a roll of 70x4 meters.
Just a little too short so .......
Called and the rest would come. At one point a motorbike arrived with the cloth. He brought 30x4 meters, just enough for one shade cloth. Called again and the rest would come the next day.

Friday 4-3

Breakfast and on to the garden. The shade cloth hung nicely! The watermelons are growing fast and the tomatoes needed some water.The rest of the shade cloth would be brought with a Matatu (taxi).
We also orded two plant tables for the plantation. These tables were made by the students who had chosen for the carpentry department. Six students and the teacher came with the ready made materials to the garden. Jan had brought some new saws and together with their old saws that made a difference of 1,000%. The teacher did not let go of the new saw. The cloth arrived and we could continue. All in all we got 500m2 of 2000m2 ordered, but that will be Kenyan way of doing things!

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