Project 2019

It seems so easy; On January 14, 2019, the 2-year carpenter (men/women) training course, financed by BmB, will start. Unfortunately, at that time there are no 10 students who meet the requirements of the Training Trades Institute Kaoma. Postponement until January 28. Fortunately, post-ponement does not come to an end, after two weeks of hard work there are not 10 but 17 students, 7 of whom are women. Awesome!

When I come back to Kaoma in July, it appears that no one has dropped out, no, they are all super motivated and also important; they have learned a lot. They make the doors and school desks for the new classrooms in Longe. A double advantage: these 17 people learn a trade and thanks to that training it is not necessary for BmB to buy expensive schooldesks in Lusaka. The doors are also cheaper and fit perfectly. No purchase of banks in Lusaka also means no high transportcosts (Lusaka-Kaoma 400 km).
In parallel with the carpentry training, the construction of the third 1×3 classroom block in Longe has started, this time without the physical help of builders from the Netherlands. The transfer is to the state on July 19. The building is beautiful again, I am proud. I’m always proud, but this time is very special. I’m very happy with the delivered craftsmanship of “our” carpentry students in training. After six months !!

The transfer is a unique opportunity to celebrate an exuberant party. A party with a lot of singing and dancing but also with many speeches. Too much actually, I would like to skip my speech but unfortunately that is not allo-wed. An African party without food is not a party so…

All in all it has been a fantastic year again and like every year I say goodbye to everyone with sadness in my heart, with the promise that I will return next year.

Herman Bouma,
Coordinator/
photographer