Two steps forward, one step back

Nothing is ever simple in developing countries. Elvino finally reached Lequeracabu’u today and has advised us against building there – apparently the available land is too small and the clay soil won’t support a concrete school like we built in Ostico. Agostinho and Jenny though are strongly in support of doing something other than walking away and leaving the children sitting on dirt floors in a falling down school with no windows.

The other option is to look at a semi-permanent school which could be built on the clay soil and in the available space. They are not beautiful like our school in Ostico – they have concrete floors, light wood walls and mesh windows. But they last 15-20 years and can be built much more cheaply than traditional schools.

Simon is investigating other sites, but Agostinho is also going to get a quote for a semi-permanent school.