Sierra Leone - Developing World Connections: Tim Kasten

Thursday, April 24, 2014

April 24th: A bittersweet goodbye to our new friends

Today wrapped up the last day of work at the Temple of Faith Primary School in George Brook. It was bittersweet because we are all feeling like it's time to go home to see friends and family; however, we are sad to say good-by to new friends here. A few tears were shed and I am sure there will be a few more, but what a awesome time we have had!

Saying goodbye

The school has a new foundation, literally and figuratively, and the wall that will hold back the bank that will form the outer wall of the new building is 90% done. Our new friends, the work crew, will finish it off by next week and will work on the rest till the funds run out. My hope is that when I come back with another team in November that we will finish and the future of the 250+ kids that attend here, the teachers that teach then and the community at large will change forever.

At the end of every volunteer trip, I reflect on what I am thankful for. On this day I am very thankful for a wonderful team who has worked hard, put up with changes on the fly, developed relationship with those around them and have done all this with a willing and glad heart.

I am also thankful for a great host partner like the We Yone Child Foundation who have kept us safe, engaged and productive over the last two weeks. WYCF's Partnership Officer, Sara Portugal, is a wonderful and committed person, and her passion for the kids in the slums of Freetown is contagious. WYFC's Founder and Programme Director, Santigie Dumbuya, is a force to be reckoned with and working with him is a pleasure in every way. He is a true inspiration.

The volunteer team with members of the George Brook community.

Tim Kasten
DWC Team Leader
Sierra Leone: April 2014

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

April 16: Starting to build the school in George Brook

After three flights and an exciting ferry ride, we arrived at our guest house at 9:30 pm. Santigie and Sara from the We Yone Child Foundation welcomed us with open arms at the airport. We were greeted with a lovely meal from our host, Ester, who had stayed up late to serve us. We all slept like the dead in clean sheets.

The volunteer team with Santigue (middle) and Sara (second from right)

Our first work day started with an awesome breakfast and then we headed to the George Brook work site. Our ride was courtesy of a BBC documentary film maker who was shooting footage on our job site that day. The Land Rover was nice but I doubt we will see that again! Most of the "cabs" here have failed safety or emissions tests everywhere else in the world, but they get us from our house to the job and back. To access the job site, we can drive as far as the George Brook football pitch and then it is a 10 minute walk up a hill to get to the school building.

When I was here last January, I visited the 18 feet by 40 feet former school building where 120 kids attended classes on dirt floors. The building was shifting off of the slope due to a missing retaining wall. The only light that came into the school was through the missing tin or hole created from the rusted out metal.

When we arrived on site, the old school building had been torn down and building had started on a proper wall. We sent some money ahead of this trip in order for the local crew to get started on the project. The new school will be twice the size as the former one and will be made of brick or concrete with proper doors windows, and a concrete floor.

The kids have the week off of school so they are helping pack sand, rocks and cement. We can tell that they are quite proud to be part of the building process of their school. There are also five skilled workers that work with us. The workers were quite taken aback that our female volunteers wanted to do the heavy lifting as well, but I think that today, on our third day on the site, they are starting to accept it.