At the end of Construction Day 7 we only have about 3 Rows of bricks to complete the outside walls and then some work on some of the inside walls.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
September 18 Day 7 of Construction
Today we have seen some marked progression in the project as we have completed some of the very slow work around the Windows and Doors.
Some evidence that i actually did work on this project. The brick work around the Windows was extremely slow as bricks had to be cut and hollowed out to accomodate the Door and Window fittings.
At the end of Construction Day 7 we only have about 3 Rows of bricks to complete the outside walls and then some work on some of the inside walls.
Hopefully by the end of tomorrow all of the Outside walls will be complete and work on the trusses for the roof can commence.
At the end of Construction Day 7 we only have about 3 Rows of bricks to complete the outside walls and then some work on some of the inside walls.
September 17 Day 6 of Construction
Today is the sixth day of construction and work has slowed down due to the difficulty of fitting bricks around the Doors and Windows.
This lady was selling Bananas at the Project site, the Kenyan equivalent of the Food van
End of Construction Day 6 All Doors and Windows are in Place and bricking is half complete around Windows and Doors.
September 16 Sunday
Today is the 5th day of construction,but some of us have decided to go to Anthonys Church for the morning service. The Congregation meet in a Tin shed and have only recently got electricity.
We arrive late ,but are welcomed to the front by the Bishop and sit in the two front rows. The pastor invites the worship team to the front and the congregation sing, dance and worship with great fervor.
The visiting pastor comes to the front to deliver the sermon and preaches for over an hour with a very simple,but effective message. The service goes for 3.5 hours. Anthony invites us all to the front and the whole congregation file past and shake our hands. This is a Church community, which seems to be deeply comitted in their faith.
View of the Church from the Main Road to Kakamega
We arrive late ,but are welcomed to the front by the Bishop and sit in the two front rows. The pastor invites the worship team to the front and the congregation sing, dance and worship with great fervor.
The visiting pastor comes to the front to deliver the sermon and preaches for over an hour with a very simple,but effective message. The service goes for 3.5 hours. Anthony invites us all to the front and the whole congregation file past and shake our hands. This is a Church community, which seems to be deeply comitted in their faith.
September 15 Rest Day
Today is a rest day and some people take the opportunity to attend a local church service.
There is currently no power as a tree fell across the Power line.
Trees for School Roof.
We required extra Timber for the trusses for the School Roof. While driving along the Road with Wes (Site Building supervisor), Anthony noticed a large Tree in the former Minister of Housings Property. They stopped and Anthony went in to negotiate a price to buy the tree. A price was negotiated and arrangements were made for the tree to be felled.
Cutting Down the Tree
Unfortunately when the tree was felled it fell across the Road taking out the power line with massive sparks. Consequently there was no power in the area for the next couple of days. The tree feller was immediately aware of the ramifications and took off leaving Anthony to explain to the authorities what had ocurred. Fortunately Anthony new Mary the assistant to the Chief of Police and was able to explain to her why the tree needed to be felled. Anthony avoided heavy fines and likely imprisonment.
Near the front gate of the Shisisari Primary School
There is currently no power as a tree fell across the Power line.
Trees for School Roof.
We required extra Timber for the trusses for the School Roof. While driving along the Road with Wes (Site Building supervisor), Anthony noticed a large Tree in the former Minister of Housings Property. They stopped and Anthony went in to negotiate a price to buy the tree. A price was negotiated and arrangements were made for the tree to be felled.
Cutting Down the Tree
Unfortunately when the tree was felled it fell across the Road taking out the power line with massive sparks. Consequently there was no power in the area for the next couple of days. The tree feller was immediately aware of the ramifications and took off leaving Anthony to explain to the authorities what had ocurred. Fortunately Anthony new Mary the assistant to the Chief of Police and was able to explain to her why the tree needed to be felled. Anthony avoided heavy fines and likely imprisonment.
The Tree fell straight across the Public Road taking out the Power Line
Orphans in Shisasari
Most Orphans in Shisasari are looked after either by uncles, aunts, Grandparents or other Members of the extended family. Often the family will find it difficult to provide even basic neccesities for another person. This is why Anthony's family play such an important role in growing Maize for Porridge. Breakfast and lunches are provided from the Production of Maize on School days.
Maize growing near Anthony's Home
Shisasari Primary School
Catherine is one of the people who prepares our meals and is an orphan who has benefited from the Porridge Meal program at the Shisisari primary School. Catherine is hopeing to go to University and is waiting on sponsorship.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
September 14 Day 4 of Construction
The main focus today is on the bricking around the doors ,so that we can use them to access the inside easily.This slows down construction of the walls.
The Tractor Bog
During the morning work is haulted by a tractor incident. One of the local Guys manages to get a tractor bogged. This is not hard due to the amount of mud from torrential downpours. There is mud spraying everywhere as he frantically accelerates and the wheels go down further into the mud. Working the vehicle
rapidly back and forward trying to break free with massive plumes of smoke billowing into the air. Suddenly he breaks free and speeds in reverse down the hill almost Jack Knifeing the trailor on the back with loud claps and laughter from the on lookers.
The completion of Day 4 of construction and the lentels are being prepared for the Windows and Doors.
This evening i was able to speak to Anthony about his life and how the Shisasari Orphan High School idea was born.
Anthony's Story.
Anthony started Operation Orphans International (OOI) with his wife Tricia Lynn Isayi. Anthony was born and grew up in the Shisasari Community (Shisasari is a shrub plant that predominantly grew in the area).
Attending Shisasari Primary school from Kindergarden. Mark Maxam gave Anthony a scholarship to attend secondary school. Anthony's family were unable to afford to send Anthony to secondary school full time,but Mark organised a scholarship,so this could happen. Mark started a Poultry project and taught Anthony how to grow Chickens and sell eggs to raise Money for college.This allowed Anthony to attend Strathmore College of accountancy in Nairobi. While Anthony was at college Mark introduced Anthony to Jua which provided solar power for secondary schools.Anthony became involved with the organization and supervised a Jua project and met his Wife Tricia who was a volunteer with Jua. Anthony has chosen to live in the US with his Wife and 3 Children and comes home to Shisasari every summer to supervise OOI.
Anthony's family are very happy that he is able to head up this organisation to provide education for children. They are particularly excited about the High School project in Shisasari. This is the first School construction project that Anthony and Tricia have been involved with. Education is the one factor that is needed to dramatically improve Childrens Lives and future.
Anthony Isayi
Bronwyn from the Hope foundation in Brisbane had an association with Ryan,as he had done some fundraising for their organization. Bronwyn went on holiday to disneyland and while queuing for one of the amusements met Michelle the Wife of the Pastor from Anthony's Church. They really hit it off and during conversation Anthony's vision for a Secondary school in Shisasari was discussed. Knowing of Ryan's involvement with simliar projects in Botswana Bronwyn returned home to Austrlalia and told Ryan of her conversations with Michelle. It was not until nearly 2 years later that Ryan actually made contact with Anthony and the idea of an Australian work Team was raised.
September 13 Day 3 of Construction
Today is my first day that i have not needed to haul bricks. Anthony has organized a team of 25 Men to do this work. They are fast and work continuously without even stopping for water. These guys are tough and most do not have foot ware. They literally throw the bricks from one to the other down the chain. The day ends with the doors being stood in place. There are now meter high walls emerging on most sides.
During the afternoon there is a torrential Downpour. The locals have a sixth sense about when the rain is
coming. When they start running for cover you better follow or you will probably get drenched.
The end of the day walls are emerging
During the afternoon there is a torrential Downpour. The locals have a sixth sense about when the rain is
coming. When they start running for cover you better follow or you will probably get drenched.
The end of the day walls are emerging
Day 4 September 12 Day 2 of Construction
This morning we continue work on the project. A change in plans and we start earlier and finish for an earlier lunch. We will have a long break during the Middle of the day when the sun is at it's hottest. Consequently working later into the evening. We head to Kakamega after lunch.
The Kenyan Diet
Meals here have been great and Lunch, Dinner usually consists of a combination of Maize, Cabbage,Beans,Meat ,Lentils , Peas and Corn. Corn features regularly in the diet and is grown on many farms in the area.
Sugar
Consumers are limited to purchasing 4 bags of Sugar each. This is to prevent the Rich from buying up all the Sugar and selling it back to the poor at inflated prices,which would further increase the gap between rich and poor.
Kakamega - This is a Town with a population of 80,000 People approx 8km from Shisasari. The third largest in Kenya.After Lunch we travel into town. Approaching Kakamega there is a huge market with People everywhere.Many vendors selling all sorts of goods from small stores. The main shopping centre has a large range of products.Entry requires you to be scanned with an electronic wand before entry. The ATM Machines are kept safe by a Guard with an AK47.
Typical Stalls at the Market in Kakamega
The day finishes on the work site with a couple of rows of bricks completed around each wall. We see the very first signs of a building taking form.
Dinner tonight is at the Golf Hotel in Kakamega. We all have to be scanned before we can enter the Hotel.
The vehicle is checked with a Mirror for IUD Devices,but the Guard does not seem to be paying a lot of attention to the Mirror.
Dinner tonight was Pasta and chips with Drinks. The total cost comes to 250 shillings each. This is the equivalent of about $3.00 AUD in Australia this would be approx $20.00
Maize Drying a large part of the Kenyan Diet .
Maize is grown on many of the farms around shisasari and seems to be mainly cultivated by hand.
The building starting to take some form.
The Kenyan Diet
Meals here have been great and Lunch, Dinner usually consists of a combination of Maize, Cabbage,Beans,Meat ,Lentils , Peas and Corn. Corn features regularly in the diet and is grown on many farms in the area.
Sugar
Consumers are limited to purchasing 4 bags of Sugar each. This is to prevent the Rich from buying up all the Sugar and selling it back to the poor at inflated prices,which would further increase the gap between rich and poor.
Kakamega - This is a Town with a population of 80,000 People approx 8km from Shisasari. The third largest in Kenya.After Lunch we travel into town. Approaching Kakamega there is a huge market with People everywhere.Many vendors selling all sorts of goods from small stores. The main shopping centre has a large range of products.Entry requires you to be scanned with an electronic wand before entry. The ATM Machines are kept safe by a Guard with an AK47.
Typical Stalls at the Market in Kakamega
The day finishes on the work site with a couple of rows of bricks completed around each wall. We see the very first signs of a building taking form.
Dinner tonight is at the Golf Hotel in Kakamega. We all have to be scanned before we can enter the Hotel.
The vehicle is checked with a Mirror for IUD Devices,but the Guard does not seem to be paying a lot of attention to the Mirror.
Dinner tonight was Pasta and chips with Drinks. The total cost comes to 250 shillings each. This is the equivalent of about $3.00 AUD in Australia this would be approx $20.00
Maize Drying a large part of the Kenyan Diet .
Maize is grown on many of the farms around shisasari and seems to be mainly cultivated by hand.
The building starting to take some form.
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