Prosper called Thursday afternoon, "Benny, you must come over here, the whole community is dancing and singing". It was the end of Phase I of the construction. Casting the floor was completed as scheduled!
We left the site earlier, it looked like a bee-hive. Fifty community members, including some of the youth and a few from neighboring community. Benny had rented a concrete mixer for three days to cast the floor. Women carryied head pans full of stones, sands, cement and water into the mixer. On the other side they were loading the head pans with concrete. Smiles were on every face. They were so proud of themselves. (They all recognized that if it was not for Benny pushing them, they would still digging the foundation.)
But somehow they got the wrong idea that when the floor was done their share of labor was completed… and Benny was planning to start laying the wall blocks the following day, on Friday. Benny hired six masons. Each mason required two community members to support him, mixing the mortar and bringing the mortar and blocks to the mason, so that they could lay the walls. They also need to mold 2000 additional blocks.
Benny gathered the community on Thursday, during their kenke-lunch break.
For the next five weeks he needs the community to support the masons in laying the blocks and continue making 360 blocks per day. "If we do not have twelve community members to support the masons, I am sending the masons home."
and he did…
While the community rested, Josef, the 75 year "elder" continued to work in the hot sun.
Benny met again with the MP. He promised 200 bags of cement, but now it seems that we have to chase him and his promise.
There were long meetings with the carpenter to plan the roof and with the new welder.
Last Sunday we met with the “Elders” at the Airfield Community, (official name is Atsiyinu Community), to discuss the digging of the septic tank. A big job. Is the community ready for the challenge?
Chicken and goats joined the meeting, teens were grinding corn, dry red chilli and rice in the mill, a small boy was roasting corn, fanning the charcoal. Palm wine was served at the end of the meeting and Abege invited me to dance with him.
I have been following the progress and the pictures. How impressive and remarkable to see what has been accomplished so far. I am quite anxious to see the site and to be able to congratulate each one involved. You are an inspiration for what can be accomplished when there is will and determination. You will never be forgotten by the community, the children, the volunteers and all the people associated with Pagus Africa.