Kankalay Sierra Leone Classrooms Urgently Needed
Banbury, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Aim
To build two permanent concrete classrooms to replace the original mud block rooms seen in the photo which had become dangerous to occupy.
Kankalay Secondary School, Port Loko, Sierra Leone has 200+ Junior Secondary pupils aged 12-16 years.
As with many schools in the country, Kankalay is a community school and receives only minimal government funding. Parents have to pay for their children to attend classes and teachers are paid from the parental fees.
How This Project Started
I've been working on projects in Sierra Leone since 2007 - see "How Alan's Africa Began" section below - and I was first introduced to Kankalay School in 2020, but as I had several other ongoing commitments in SL at the time, I was unable to offer the school my support. They had 4 mud block classrooms but the structures were getting progressively worse (see the photo above).
In January 2022, when I was re-approached by the school, the roofs of the classrooms had collapsed further, as the block walls had deteriorated, and they had become dangerous and totally unsuitable as a learning environment. They had been forced to revert to temporary classrooms (see photo below) but these structures were unlikely to withstand the rainy season (June to September) hence the urgent need for permanent concrete block structures.
At this stage I was also told that there were no toilets at the school except for the toilet enclosure pictured below.
My priority became the construction of a toilet block with the classrooms to follow.
Since the start of February we have raised enough money to complete the funding for a 6-cubicle toilet block and a block comprising 2 classrooms, an office, staffroom and storage area. The new toilet block (pictured below) is already in use and the classroom block is undergoing its finishing touches – installing ceilings, painting and putting up blackboards. The total cost of the funded project so far is £10,550.
Below shows the progress so far, at 15 June 2022 - the build of the first two classrooms is completed and they have had their first first coat of paint.
Phase 2 of the project – another 2 classrooms - has started and we have completed the foundations but we now need to raise another £6,000 in order to complete the building of these MUCH needed classrooms and this is what this crowdfunder is for - we need your help.
If we surpass our target ANY surplus funds will be invested in providing classroom furniture or the provision of additional classrooms.
For the entire project, and indeed all AlansAfrica projects, we utilise local builders and carpenters. We employ local labour to make the concrete blocks for building which not only provides employment but is also cheaper than buying them ready made. This is also gives the local community a sense of ownership of the project and the school.
Testimonials
This is an quote from one of my co-ordinators in Freetown, Solomon Kamara:
Mr Alan, you have made so many sacrifices to help many communities in Sierra Leone. So much money has been invested in supporting the building of classrooms, toilets, water wells, water harvesting, classroom furniture and helping individuals that are in need. We realise all the challenges you face to raise these monies but you are always committed to helping our communities. On behalf of the 7 schools that you are working with we thank you so much for the continual support for the various schools.
How Alan's Africa Began
I first went to Sierra Leone in 2005 as a Rotary volunteer with Mercy Ships, for what I believed would be a one off life experience - but it was life changing for me and I've now been twelve times.
In 2007, my third trip, I started to work directly with a school community in Freetown and since then I have fundraised to support eight schools, including building and furnishing 37 classrooms - 21 of these with water harvesting systems, and 9 with electricity. We have also built 9 toilet blocks - 6 with water harvesting and handwash stations, sunk 3 wells and fully refurbished another 3. We've been supporting Momoh, a wheelchair-bound teenager, for a number of years and in 2021, when he and his carer were evicted from their dwelling, we built and furnished a small home for them on a piece of land gifted by their local community.
One of the schools I work with was housed in a small church hall with 85 junior children in very cramped conditions with very little furniture and on my initial visit in 2013 I pledged to build them two classrooms when funds permitted. We have since created a new school for both junior and junior secondary age children, comprising 6 classrooms, 2 toilet blocks, a water well, all of which are enclosed in a school compound and now there are 180 pupils attending. In recognition of this, in 2016 the school chose to re-name itself Banbury International Community School.
Additional projects include working with a network of supporters here in the UK, providing school uniforms, sports kit, school stationery items, sanitary products for girls who would otherwise not attend school and involving Oxford United in supporting a local community football club. Support comes from individuals, businesses, sports clubs, schools, Rotary clubs, charitable trusts and WI groups.
"AlansAfrica" is my passion and it has become an approved project of the Rotary Club of Banbury, of which I am a member. To date over £330,000 has been raised and EVERY penny raised goes direct to the projects.
For more information, regular newsletters, my contact details, particularly if you are interested in becoming a regular supporter, please see my website:
Thank you for your donations - with your support we are "making a real difference" in Sierra Leone.
Photos below show Mahera Wharf youth football club in kit donated by Oxford United FC, and completed classrooms at Banbury International Community School.
This project successfully funded on 22nd July 2022