Learning/Environmental Improvement
The summary below was provided by the Peace Corps Volunteer and the community administering this project.
This project is deigned to provide the school with a safer, more effective learning environment and to teach the children about the importance of volunteerism, environmental stuardship and civic mindedness. The project has three components that, when combined, will strengthen and reinforce the aformentioned values. These three components are: new desks and chairs for the children, the reeuse and recycle of the old (which includes a donation to the local orphanage), and a river clean up project.
Part of this project is specifically for new desks and chairs for the students. This is needed as the desks they currently use are poorly constructed, uncomfortable and unsafe. I have witnessed on numerous occasions situations in which a student sits down and his/her chair collapses. Also, I have seen students rocking back and forth on wobbly chairs; being disruptive to others who are trying to learn. In addition, I have seen children set their arms on the desk and have the desk flip up and almost hit them in the face. The teachers repeatedly have to paint the desks and chairs every summer as they are rusting etc. Many times, often during class, children fight over the best chairs in the class. The teachers, director of the school and I all agree that new desks and chairs for the children would greatly improve the overall learning environment of the students.
There is also a recycling/environmental component to the project as well. The school has agreed to give the old furniture that is in working condition, to the local orphanage. The machinists who work at the school will take the unusable furniture, break it down, and use the scrap metal to fortify the fence surrounding the school, and fortify the school's playground equipment (such as the basketball hoops and jungle gym).
In addition, the community wants to include a trip to the banks of the local river in order to do a much needed clean up. The materials for such excursion will be provided by the community and the trash will be hauled to the closest landfill or recycling center.
Lastly, the community, in conjunction with the Peace Corps Volunteer, will facilitate two seminars at both the school and the orphanage, on the importance of volunteerism, civic-mindedness, and the care of the environment.
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