Befang Primary School Project
by Lydia Sorflaten
Integrated Development Foundation has undertaken to implement a project to repair a three room school at the Befang Primary Presbytery School. Mme Oussematou has spent days planning with stakeholders. Would the community agree to having the three room structure repaired? Is this something the community wants? What would be the community’s role? How much would the repairs cost? A civil engineer drafted a plan. Materials were listed and costs were estimated. A serious need was identified, that of sanitation. There was a need to build a latrine. This became the first project applied for, then the larger project came next. The Rotary Club of Truro agreed to be the funding International partner.. The Rotary Club of Kumbo is the host club in Cameroon and IDF is the implementing agency.
Initial plans were very detailed for both the latrine and the repairs to the three room structure. Cost estimates were calculated. An application was made by Hand Up, an organization consisting of a number of Rotary groups, to make this a Rotary International project. This helps greatly with funding.
Pa Tafrie, chairperson for the Integrated Development Foundation, is the on the ground person in Befang. On Wednesday, April 25th, a community celebration of the project as held on the grounds of the Befang Primary Presbytery School. On the previous Monday, we toured the site. Below are our impressions.
After the ceremonies signifying the progress of the Befang Primary School Project, we were invited to the Pastor’s house for a meal. We were asked to write in the guest book. Let me share with you what I wrote, then we will attempt to convey the magnitude of the project, its impact on the school and community.
‘We sign this on behalf of the members of the Rotary Club of Truro who chose Befang Primary School as their major project. They chose to dedicate it in memory of Charlie Hill farmer and long time member of the Rotary Club of Truro. In his will, Charlie Hill left money to be used for an International Project. (When the announcement was made to the guests that their community had been chosen for this project, they all cheered!) Further to this, Marian the Librarian (from Bridgetown) gave the books, teacher resource materials and for each child pencils, erasers, sharpeners, pencil cases, math sets and more. For our part, this project is a highlight in our lives. To see the community come together, to decide how to go about the project, planning and executing the plan by all helping. May God be with you as you foster the growth and development of these children. How privileged we are to have been able to be with you. A special Thank You to Pa Tafrie and Mme Oussematou for their hours and hours of dedication and hard work. All of us together have made this incredible dream reality. Our love….Allan and Lydia’
Construction
Our first visit to the site on March 24
th, 2014, we were met by a group that would accompany us on the tour: Pa Tafrie, IDF chair and overseer of the project (yellow jacket), head master of the school (far right), pastors, chairman of the school board and the night watchman.The front areas around the foundation were pulled away and the broken foundation was repaired. New bricks made by community members were used for the exterior s walls. The old bricks were cleaned up and used for the inner partitioning walls. The door frames were assembled on site and installed when we were there. The frames are made from Eucalyptus and the doors are made from Eroko, a strong termite resistant wood. Lessons learned from the rebuilding of the GS Illum led to investigation for a better window. All made on site, have a look! The design for the forms has to be precise. Pa Tafrie says these windows will be durable! The windows allow for good ventilation and natural lighting. Can you imagine the weight of this window? It takes 3-4 men to lift it in place.Each of the trades people arrive when it is time for their part. On Monday morning, early, the masons and builder dropped by on their way back for the week from Bamenda. The carpenters will come at the end of this week to begin the roof. The electrician was installing the conduit. He surprised us by appearing at the get together at the pastor’s house. He wanted to show his appreciation of what is being done for the community by presenting us with a hand embroidered shoulder bag.Where are the children while repairs are being made? Each of the three classes is situated under a big tree, blackboard in front and their desks in neat rows.All priority is on getting the children back into their classrooms. They are hoping in two weeks time work will have progressed sufficiently for this to happen. After this important phase, the workmen will move to complete the latrine. At this point, the latrine is a big rectangular hole dug deep (they were pleased that they were able to dig the hole easily, not encumbered by rocks. We were shocked to see what they are using for a latrine now. Extremely dangerous. Big gaps between the wooden slats over a deep hole filled with sewer. Not fit for an adult, never mind a child of any age. The concrete blocks for the base of the latrine are handmade on site. At the bottom of the pit, the blocks will be filled with concrete.The materials for the project are secured in the pastors house. Materials for the project must be signed for. Security is tight.We watched as the workman secured large planks on either side of the wall to pour a concrete beam upon which the roof will be built. So it is all coming together! Community Involvement:The community workers have made 1500 bricks.
Many of these bricks have already been used in the outside wallsThe community workers have pulled the old stone out and have used their hoes to prepare the ground for the platform and approach to the school entrances and drainsThe community has met many times to plan. They decided that there was an area below the school that would make an excellent playground for the children. They came together to clear the land Tuesday of this past week. They also decided that a big mango tree had to be dismantled because it is too close to the school roof. These pictures show the playground cleared and the mango tree in process of being dismantled.
