pck 4 a4a: Report 8

Up! Up! And away…

March 9th at 9pm I will fly out and the mission will begin. As a case study for finishing my diploma at FAUP (Porto Architectural School), I've decided to volunteer and join A4A (Architects for Aid) in one of their humanitarian architecture projects. The projected on which I've been assigned is the construction of the LCCU (Lesotho Children Counseling Unit) centre in Lesotho. The building has been halted and an assessment, survey and new proposal and program will be drawn up in order that the building might finish to be built. Once this is completed a second trip will be organized and I'll be overseeing the building on site. The objective of this blog is to keep record of the work that is being done, both for the benefit of the members of A4A in London, FAUP to whom I'll also be reporting, my own record as well as friends and family that might want to know what I'm up to. Please comment on any post that you have an opinion, as this will undoubtedly help me in the completion of my thesis. Disclaimer: The information displayed on this site has not been previously edited or checked by any A4A staff and I'm the sole responsible for it's contents. A4A or any of the other involved organizations are not to be hold responsible on any account for what is published on this blog.

Wednesday 21 March 2007

Report 8

Mission Accomplished (or at least part of it anyway!)

Today we spent the day showing the scheme to Lydia, and then the funders.

All were impressed and extremely happy with direction in which were now taking it.
Lydia was happy to see how we had made it a lot safer for the kids, and functional both to run and to use. She liked the new covered cloister, and the rooms, as well as the kitchens (where we agreed that extra fire protection to the already treated roof will be applied) and the work spaces. The only thing that she would like extra was a division for a private counselling chamber (already dealt with). So after this rewarding meeting and a no show from the old builder (not at all unexpected given the circumstances), we headed of to our next commitment and potentially more complicated one, the bank.

We met at Sentebale’s offices and from the start Martin managed to explain them, without alarming them, of the problems of their current building, what had to be done to salvage it, and we then went on to explain what we where planning to do next to deliver a quality building that all could be proud of! And that to achieve that more funds would be needed…

They totally agreed with us, and the solution of continuing only with subcontractors has been disregarded and they now await the quotes from the two builders to whom we’ve already spoke.

All in all it was a successful day! We will continue our work and hopefully have all that is needed for pricing ready on Thursday.

Just a note on the Old LCCU, today it was still smouldering, but it has now started to be cleared out… Baba has tried to contact the technical builder’s school to get them involved, it could be an important study project for them giving them the opportunity to participate in rebuilding the community. But there is still a lot to be cleaned out before any work can start there.