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Update on My Lesotho Community Project

September 11, 2016 by Sonia Marsh 8 Comments

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Parents and grandparents attending the village “pitso” meeting at my school to discuss the community development project.

 

 

I’ve been working hard and fast to submit the application to start funding my Peace Corps Community Project. As you can see, the roof and ceiling collapsed at my school, and I hope you can help fund my Lesotho community project, when the Peace Corps accepts, and posts the link to funding my project on their website.

3 goals for my Lesotho Community Project are:
  1. To create a safe classroom environment, by fixing the collapsed roof and ceiling in grade 5.
  2. To wire eleven classrooms providing electricity for lighting, heating during cold winters, and computer literacy.
  3. To improve classroom safety and cleanliness by installing vinyl floor tiles.

As you can see from the photo below, I’m worried that the rest of the roof is going to collapse on my students, so I hope to get started as soon as possible.

Roof and ceiling in my 5th grade classroom
Roof and ceiling in my 5th grade classroom

Here’s what I’ve done:

  • Held a village “pitso” meeting at school, explaining the 3 goals of the community project, and making sure that there is interest, and a 25% contribution from members, in order to ensure sustainability. The parents agreed to pay 10 rand each towards hiring a cook to feed the workers. (This is important in Lesotho.)
  • Received quotations from various contractors, and suppliers. My counterpart selected the local contractor who maintains the village high school, and who was recommended by my village chief.
  • Drawn up a detailed contract of the three phases of the project, the materials and transportation required, a detailed timeline, and a specific clause on how to handle theft of tools and/or materials. Also a payment schedule with signatures from the local chief, contractor, supervisor, myself and two witnesses.

I have made friends with a couple of expats who run businesses in Lesotho, and who alerted me to some of the pitfalls, and how to overcome them. Having the contract and making the village chief responsible for supervising the project, were ideas that I had not thought of myself.

I was also able to get price quotations on materials, like floor tiles and glue, from these local business expats who know where to go, and how to get discounts.

bad-floor-in-grade-2
Cracked cement floor. Want to tile the floor for the cold winters and cleanliness.

I submitted my proposal to the Lesotho Peace Corps office, and hope to hear back from them soon, so that Peace Corps Washington DC can get the link for funding my project as soon as possible.

My goal is to raise $5,000,  and to finish all the work by November 15th, 2016. Maybe this is wishful thinking, but I believe it can be done.

If you are able to help donate funds for my community development project, please keep reading my weekly blog, or sign up to receive my blog posts on the right side of my landing page. (See photo below where to sign up on my blog page: (http://Soniamarsh.com)

landing-page

I’ll post the link for donations, once the Peace Corps has approved my submission.

Thanks for your interest.

Filed Under: Lesotho, Peace Corps Tagged With: Lesotho Community Project

Comments

  1. Carol says

    September 11, 2016 at 8:24 am

    It’s great so many parents and grandparents attended your meeting,I’m impressed.It’s a job in management you’ve got now!
    Your project will be successful, I’m sure.

    Reply
    • Sonia Marsh says

      September 14, 2016 at 11:06 am

      Thank you Carol. I’m learning new things all the time.
      Sonia Marsh recently posted..Update on My Lesotho Community ProjectMy Profile

      Reply
  2. Lady Fi says

    September 11, 2016 at 10:02 am

    What a worthy cause!

    Reply
    • Sonia Marsh says

      September 14, 2016 at 11:07 am

      I hope I can make this work. I really want to for the sake of the children and the teachers.
      Sonia Marsh recently posted..Update on My Lesotho Community ProjectMy Profile

      Reply
  3. marian beaman says

    September 11, 2016 at 12:58 pm

    You are doing such a good work, Sonia. I admire all the efforts toward this worthy cause!
    marian beaman recently posted..Janet & Marian: A Tale of Two HousesMy Profile

    Reply
    • Sonia Marsh says

      September 14, 2016 at 11:08 am

      I feel lucky to have this opportunity. I’m trying new things.
      Sonia Marsh recently posted..Update on My Lesotho Community ProjectMy Profile

      Reply
  4. Suellen Zima says

    September 13, 2016 at 2:15 am

    Good luck! I’ll be looking forward to reading more about your progress on this project.

    Reply
    • Sonia Marsh says

      September 14, 2016 at 11:08 am

      I hope to get started soon Suellen.
      Sonia Marsh recently posted..Update on My Lesotho Community ProjectMy Profile

      Reply

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