Our goal is to support the schools we have been working with for a number of years and with which we want to continue working with architectural improvements. This will help meet the increasing number of students. But in this way we also ensure acceptable conditions for the students and the teachers who receive additional training with our help. The project concerns the following activities:
SLMB Primary School
The SLMB Primary School has requested general work, including the maintenance of the water pipes, the replacement of the (toilet) doors and windows, the renovation of the well, the repair of the roof and/or ceiling of certain classrooms, washing facilities for the toilets and painting of the entire school building. Furthermore, the school has requested new school furniture, including 61 chairs and desks, 10 chairs for the teachers, 7 tables for the teachers and 1 new cupboard. Also the construction of a kindergarten with two new classrooms, so that children from the community can start school at a younger age and thus achieve better school results at a later age.
Roman Catholic Primary School
The Roman Catholic Primary School has a need to replace the (toilet) doors and windows, renovate the well, maintain the water pipes, repair four ceilings, paint the entire school building and install washing facilities in the toilets. In terms of furniture, the school has requested new desks and chairs for the students and teachers and a cupboard. On the other hand, they still have tables and chairs that can be repaired, so that the purchase costs remain limited. In order to accommodate the increasing number of students, the school has requested a new school building, containing 3 classrooms, an office and a storage room.
Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Primary School
The Second Day Advent Primary School has asked for much the same as the previous two schools. On the other hand, they also ask for the completion of an extra classroom at the school. This was not yet completely completed and would provide extra teaching space in the school. In terms of furniture, the SDA Primary School is in the same position as the Roman Catholic Primary School; furniture that can be repaired and some new furniture needed. The SDA Primary School also has a drastically increasing number of students and with that a need for three extra classrooms, an office and storage space.
Benevolent Primary School
The Benevolent Primary School also has a number of works that fall under general maintenance and light renovation work. Like the SDA Primary School, this school has a classroom that has yet to be completed. We want to provide that. For the increased number of pupils, Benevolent Primary School can have a number of furniture repaired and there is also a need for a number of newly purchased tables and chairs. This school lacks a good place for the students to eat. That is why the school board has made a calculation for a modest school canteen.
Ahmadiyya Primary School
The Ahmadiyya Primary School needs general maintenance, such as replacing the (toilet) doors and windows, painting the entire school, installing washing facilities in the toilets and renovating the well. However, she also asks for a ditch, so that they can control the water level, so that flooding can be prevented. This school also needs extra tables and chairs for the students. Some will be repaired and some will be purchased new. The Ahmadiyya Primary School also requires a new school building with 3 classrooms, an office and a storage room to accommodate the increasing number of students.
Seventh Day Adventist Secondary School
This secondary school is undergoing a steady growth of students. The management has submitted a plan for the construction of three new classrooms. The school compound offers sufficient space to erect this building. There is also a need for a separate, well-equipped computer classroom.
TARGET AUDIENCE
Of the 45,000 inhabitants of Yele and the surrounding area, about 2,500 children are enrolled in the five primary schools. The Seventh Day Adventist SS secondary school has approximately 1,000 students. In recent years there has been a significant increase in the number of students enrolling. It has a relatively young population.
Over the past few years, we have worked with all more than 100 teachers from the schools concerned to improve teaching skills. Most teachers are paid by the government, others do their work voluntarily for a small fee. All teachers also belong to the direct target group.
Girls in the school get in extra attention through a program form collaboration between the Een Helpende Hand Foundation, the Smarter Hospital Foundation and the schools involved. This is expressed in scholarships, teacher training in this area and extra sex education. Good education and more respect should strengthen the position of girls and women.
TIME SCHEDULE OF THE IMPLEMENTATION
The schools would like to carry out the work from the start of the new school year, but because of budget constraints we spread the work over 3 years. And of course the work will be carried out with minimal impact on the progress of the curriculum.
AGREEMENT
Maintenance and construction work will be carried out by the company Mosmed Construction and General Services from the city of Kenema. The foundations and schools have had good experiences with this contractor in previous construction projects. This applied, for example, to the maintenance work on the same schools in 2014 and recently the renovation of the City Garden Clinic, the hospital in Makeni that is also supported by the Smarter Hospital Foundation.