After a few days away, we returned to see very encouraging progress at the ZCC worksite!!
The walls are inching upward as concrete drying allows, the circular foundation is coming along (Jim Clark the engineer wants to draw our attention to the fact that those perfect circles were etched with a stick and a string!), and the work group has come together as a self-motivating bunch.
Also of note: the Community Center committee in Mupagamuri had been hesitant, putting off the initial steps of construction. Given how tenuous everything feels these days, their reluctance toward taking the first step of buying construction materials makes a kind of sense- it is very hard to count on promises and plans under these conditions. But Prisca and Nancy visited them and after a stretch of trying to convince them with words, we invited them to come see the Berejena worksite. They made the trip, and returned ON FIRE! They have plans to get the bricks to their site in time for March, and have made enthusiastic commitments to the project- a very hopeful sign! It sure is great to know that in Berejena, we have an example that will inspire other communities.
There was a great deal of hard work going on all day at the ZCC worksite- these sweet kids entertained both themselves and the rest of us by hopping around in the concrete bags! Who among us doesn’t know how fun that is!?!
This is a very important reminder that even in places where the conditions sound unbearable, kids are kids, people are people, and there is ever-so-human joy in everyday life.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUPPORT OUR ZIENZELE COMMUNITY CENTER FUND, PLEASE CONTACT OUR TREASURER JIM CLARK AT:
jhclark48@gmail.com
Architect Christopher Smith donated his time and expertise to a high-efficiency design that takes into consideration local constraints and traditional architectural techniques- thank you so much, Christopher!