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July 2008 - Posts
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Progress on the construction of four classrooms at Wat Mon Thyean Primary School continues to run on schedule. This week, workers started installation of rebar for the ground beams. Despite the contractors wish to install ground slab rebar, too, Bunrith, SCC's engineer, halted activities due to the inavailability of a hand compactor to complete stone compaction of the ground slab. PHV, the contractor, reports that their hand compactor is being repaired. Ground slab work will continue when it is available or when PHV, SCC and the Wat Mon Thyean school support committee agree on an alternative way to complete stone compaction without jeopardizing quality of the building.
Construction will be on hold for four days -- July 25-28 -- as workers return to their home provinces to participate in Sunday's national election.
Workers install ground beam rebar:
Two school support committee members look on as workers install rebar:
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University students Savada and Raksmey joined the SCC team this week, as the start to their two-month long internship with the charity. Savada, originally from an area along Cambodia's border with Thailand, just completed her second year in law at the Royal University of Law and Economics. Raksmey, from Kampong Thom province, also just completed her second year of studies, but in biology at the Royal University of Phnom Penh. Both students are among 35 young women sponsored by the Harpswell Foundation (http://harpswellfoundation.org/) to complete their university education in Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capitol.
During their internship with SCC, Savada and Raksmey will be sharing their educational experiences, particularly the challenges they faced and how they overcame them, with students, parents and teachers. Because the young women came from disadvantaged families themselves, they are in positions to serve as excellent role models for the children and community members in the areas where SCC is working.
Savada and Raksmey have demonstrated impressive initiative and motivation in their first week, and SCC is happy to welcome them on board.
Savada (bottom left) and Raksmey (bottom right) with primary school students at Phoum Stung:
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Construction at Wat Mon Thyean is over 10% complete and on-schedule for October completion. PHV Construction Co, Ltd and laborers from the Wat Mon Thyean community have completed the foundation and are now working on the floor slab.
The school support committee and SCC's construction engineer continue to monitor the site on a day-to-day basis. As they see quality issues or variations from the specifications, they raise them with the contractor and ensure that they are addressed. Construction was halted by the school support committee one week ago, when PHV was prepared to lay concrete without a concrete vibrator, a step that could have jeopardized quality. Together, the community and SCC are working to ensure that the new classrooms are as well-constructed as possible.
Week 3 progress:
Laborers from Kok Russey Kang Cherng village remove soil at the site:
The school support committee (4 men, right) log a complaint with PHV about brick quality in the contractor's log book, while Bunrith, SCC's construction engineer (far right), discusses the issue with PHV's site supervisor, Sareth:
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Fifth and sixth grade students at Phoum Stung Primary School are actively participating in researching education issues in their community. A group of 20 students have convened over the past two weeks to map out school enrollment across their village. After receiving training from Jay, SCC's Project Coordinator, students set out to visit all 199 families in their village, identifying children and adolescents, aged 6-18, who are not enrolled in school. The exercise will culminate in determination of the village's school enrollment ratio as well as identification of the top issues keeping children from school. Beyond data collection, the project is intended to engage and empower children in identifying and solving problems in their community.
Students display sections of their village map before setting out to interview families in each neighborhood:
Students prepare for conducting interviews with families in their village:
Students participate in role play, as a means for preparing to undertake their research:
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On July 2, the Wat Mon Thyean (WMT) School Support Committee (SSC) and community members convened at the classroom construction site to break ground on the new building. With smiles stretching across their faces, each of the participants proudly cracked through the clay-like earth. After working up a sweat, the SSC and community members enjoyed refreshments together.
The four-classroom and three-toilet buildings are being built by PHV Construction Co, Ltd, of Phnom Penh, with laborers from the local WMT community. The buildings are expected to be completed by October 13, 2008 for use in the 2008-09 school year.
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Khnar Chas village, just five kilometers outside of Siem Reap town, now has access to electricity. In early July, SCC funded electrification of Khnar Primary school, providing teachers and students with an electric school bell system, lights, fans, and a desktop computer for school administration.
Teachers and students, who once sweltered in the staff meeting room and library, are very thankful for the ceiling fans that help to keep them cool now that the school is connected to electricity.
Khnar's ongoing electricity expenses will be covered through funding from the Royal Government of Cambodia, as a means to ensure sustainability.
Wires strung across Khnar's campus bring electricity to the school:
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On Monday, June 23, the Wat Mon Thyean (WMT) School Support Committee (SSC), SCC, and PHV Construction Co., Ltd, of Phnom Penh, convened at the Wat Mon Thyean school library to sign a contract for the construction of four classrooms and three toilets. The total contract value is $61,000.
PHV will initiate construction on June 30 for an October 13 completion date. The company is committed to hiring an unskilled labor force from Kok Russey Kang Cherng village, as a means of getting the local community involved in the school and providing work opportunities. Monitoring of the construction is to be conducted by the School Support Committee, the local labor force, and Bunrith, SCC's construction engineer.
SCC's General Manager, Andrea, seals the construction contract with SCC's stamp:
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