kindergardens4senegal.org

Report March 14, 2023

The 5th kindergarten project is realized, quickly and with great satisfaction

Thanks to the hardworking and large brick laying team of eight workers, it was possible to finish the foundation for both kindergarten buildings, the toilets fille/garçon, as well as the small office with a storage room in only 10 days. Even though work was done at such a fast pace, good quality must be standard. Each step of the work is inspected. I always follow this so important phase of the foundation with particularly watchful eyes and I was very satisfied. Likewise, the various competent people on the construction committee that was set up especially for our project are downright enthusiastic. In addition, the tireless commitment of the kindergarten director, M. Doukouré, and his team has ensured that the various works all around have been completed in short order. This is also an important part of the construction process, so that the masons can work quickly. (Preparation of the building site, filling of the foundation, supplying of the bricks, etc.). Thus, the team was able to work without interruption and has currently raised the walls in just two days. The walls of various buildings are already done up to the windows .

My special project: Play program with the children in class

Prior to the start of construction, I was able to introduce another "play program" in one of the existing kindergartens, as I had already started last year. The goal is for the children to be able to occupy themselves in a variety of ways at the various playgrounds and to be able to live out their interests and talents. It is always amazing how quickly the children develop in this process and how much they enjoy coming to the kindergarten classes. One can see the enthusiasm shine in their eyes.

I am always very relieved when the foundation is laid. After that, a very busy time combined with hard work awaits us each time. Filling sand up to the foundation walls, which we always manage with volunteers from the neighborhood. Thus, about 32 cubic meters of sand were transported to the buildings, bucket by bucket, wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow, cart by cart. Together with more than fifty youths and twenty adults, it was like being in a beehive. The three interior rooms eventually swallowed up the two large loads of sand that were kindly supplied to us by the municipality. A helpful support and as I personally see it, it’s an important gesture to participate in our projects.

Currently, the walls are already being raised. It is a joy to see how the buildings grow every day. It is also an advantage if the physically strenous work can be done before the month of fasting, which begins on March 23. The thermometer is already climbing to over 43 degrees, which is an additional challenge without drinking. Perhaps we will manage to have the buildings roofed by the beginning of Ramadan and the rest of the work can be done mostly in the shade.

During the somewhat quieter phases of the construction project, I take the opportunity to continue working in the mornings in various kindergartens. This form of playground design is an equally great need. The short training of the teachers, the lack of material and ideas, often leads to unattractive frontal teaching, which quickly tires and bores the children. It is always astonishing to see the positive change that can be seen in the children in a short time with the playful environment .

>> mehr Bilder