Teshie School Project – Volunteer Diary - Day 9
A report by ESB & ESBI Volunteers on-site this week at the Ghana School Project
Earth Movers, Machinery and Media
The last two days has seen a major clean up on the site in preparation for the Open Day on Wednesday (22nd). Earth moving machinery has been brought in and rubble etc. removed off site by truck. A number of media has arrived on site also and are carrying out interviews and filming the work that is taking place. A ‘Who wants to be a Millionaire’ quiz organised by Brendan O’Connor saw the winning team win a total of €240 (€10 per volunteer). The winners presented the money to colleague Séamus O Ceallacháin to donate to the nuns at the Orphanage that the volunteers visited over the weekend. The group are pushing themselves even further despite the heat to get all blocks of rooms, which have so far been refurbished by the contractor, completely wired and painted – both internally and externally – before they leave site on Saturday. While this is a tight deadline they are adamant that nothing will stop them in their progress.
Electrical Progress – Thousands of Metres of Wire Used
Electricians are now completing the second round of fixing of permanent fixtures now that the ceiling panelling is almost completed i.e. fuse boards, fans and fluorescent lighting. They were able to ‘turn the key’ on the first Cluster of 6 rooms by lunchtime today. If panelling is completed in the IT/Resource Centre this building will also be left in a turn key position by Friday lunchtime. Thousands of metres of wire has gone into this area and fans will be installed tomorrow morning. The first Cluster of 4 rooms is also finished in its entirety. Wiring and the fitting of fuseboard, sockets and switches has been completed on the second Cluster of 4 rooms and once panelling is completed lights and fans will be fixed.
Electrical Progress – Overhead Lines Expected by Thursday
While the electricians didn’t expect to get to the next Cluster of 6 they are now half way through the wiring and hope to complete by Wednesday. They will have to loop back to complete all the fixing on rooms where panelling hadn’t been completed by contractor. While a JCB was on site for the clear up, the electricians took the opportunity to ask the Architect to organise for the holes to be dug for the poles. This work had commenced by Contracting staff who were digging by hand and was a slow process. As a result the first 4 poles were in place by lunchtime and the remaining 4 by afternoon tomorrow. By Thursday the volunteers hope to see overhead lines running into the site. They are pushing hard to have power to all the blocks they have completed before they leave site on Saturday. The Open Day (Wed) may cause some delay to the programme but the volunteers hope that this will not cause too many issues for them as by Thursday all the crew will be able to work together to complete any outstanding works.
Painting Progress – Students Get to See Flagship Classroom
As with the electrical work, progress has been exceptionally well. Additional material was required due to the unprecedented amount of work that was completed. The blocks (above) which have been wired by electricians have also been prepared by painting team and given first and second coats. Sealing and preparation is continuing on all of the pillars on the exterior of the blocks. In preparation for the Open Day a ‘flagship’ classroom was completed in entirety today and visitors and pupils will have a chance to preview what all the rooms will look like when the project is completed.
by Bernie Healy - Editor EM
