Construction Preparation

We have now been in Zambia for 6 weeks and we are slowly making progress on all the dormitory plans. Our NGO application is still being processed, but it should be finished by the time we return to Lusaka on August 1st. We have gotten price lists for all the building supplies and even had a shop offer to deliver everything to our plot of land for free, which was very kind. We met with several different bricklayers in Mkushi trying to find a good deal for our buildings. At first they requested 12,0000 kwacha per building which is roughly $2,0000 dollars and far more than it should cost for the labor of 2 men when we still provide all supplies and equipment for them. A similar sized building was constructed last year for only 5,000 kwacha. After much negotiation, we finally found 2 bricklayers that agreed to 7,500 kwacha. It is a little higher than it should be, but still well within the budget and we agreed to higher both. Now each crew can work on one of the two buildings simultaneously to ensure we finish everything before rainy season begins in November. As soon as we return in the beginning of August we can purchase the supplies and quickly begin construction now that everything is ready to go. For our personal living situation, we found a nice house across from the plot that we can rent for only $100 a month. The house is pretty big and even hooked up to electricity. There is no running water, but the owner pumps water into a large tank on the property so it is freely available and very close. We requested that they also provide a bed, so hopefully they will follow through with that. The owner is a teacher and he just built the house in order to rent it and provide supplemental income for his family so he is very eager to have tenets that are willing to stay for 6 months. I'm sure this will be a nice upgrade from the tent that we are currently living in. Although, the only complaint about our nice 2-room tent has been the cold as we are currently in cold-season and living in the coldest part of the country. While in Mkushi we were able to visit our students and spend some time talking with their teachers. We are very impressed with our students and I would like to quickly highlight the accomplishments of one student, Esther. Esther began grade 9 in Chalata last year and performed so well that she was invited to transfer to the best public high school in the district, Mkushi High School. We were able to visit her there, where the headmaster said she is working very hard at her studies and transitioning well to the new environment. The boarding environment there is much improved over Chalata and we are confident that she has sufficient adult supervision and support from school staff. I am sure she will continue to be a great success in her new school! Overall we are so excited to begin construction next month and we look forward to spending even more time with these intelligent and hard-working students!