New Kindergarten Dining Hall Facility

First the idea then the first sketch

September 5, 2022

For a kindergarten with 60+ children, there is always something to improve, something to change, something to add on. Early September 2022, a group involved with the kindergarten decided it's a good time to build a dining hall for the children. Until then, they would cook outside, and the children would sit in the shade of one of the buildings to have a meal. Cooking outside has proven dangerous for the cooks, but more often for children.

A quick sketch was put on paper, dimensions and integration into already existing buildings discussed. We loved the idea, especially under the aspect that the facility would also be a safe place for the kids to stay once the kindergarten hours were over and the parents haven't picked up their kids. Until now, the children would walk home and be alone for hours until the parent(s) came home. This is just a reality in many countries. Children are often alone. We wanted to change that in this community in Mere.

Getting the quotes in and writing a budget

September 7, 2022

Once the design was finished, Pastor Kalugo Memzu Tuva went to work and collected all the information to put together a quote/budget plan for the new project.

Within in days we had a detailed overview of the costs:

Material	KES 389,750	~US$ 3,800.00
Labour & Lunch (for workers)*	KES 165,500 KES 4,500 per 7 day	~US$ 1,650.00 ~US$ 45.00

* Lunch Funds were added later

Knowing the how, the costs, the when, we reached out to various MFP Ambassadors. Federica, our MFP Ambassador for Switzerland, immediately went to work. Within a few hours, the funds for this project were secured.

The next day, we informed the team in Mere to proceed with the new project.

Preparing the layout and digging the trenches for the foundation

For the layout, anything and everything can and will be used. The kids, their desks positioned in the designated area to get a better feel for the required design.

Also - an important fact: Silvia, our MFP Ambassador, insisted the tree to the right must be saved!
So, the decision was made to build the wall around the tree.

Let the digging begin

... and now the walls!

Halfway Point

On October 18, the parents and the team got together to celebrate the halfway point. The walls of the new building have been completed.

Delivery Services

October 26, 2022

The second phase has begun. Delivery of the beams for the roof. Painted in the traditional green. The roof will be completed with simple corrugated sheets.

Followed by plastering all the walls on the in- and outside.

Important to mention: for our projects, whenever possible we try to have the local people be the main part of the workforce.

Ready for the windows and doors

Final Phase - Painting the Building

November 28, 2022

Opening Celebration

December 8, 2022

The day of celebration!

Over 60 kindergarten kids, 50 parents and ten local dignitaries came together to celebrate the official opening of the new dining hall with a prayer, a performance by the children and then a good meal for everyone present.

This event was later also covered on several TV stations of the region. We hope these reports inspire others to also decide to leave footprints in the sands of time.

We wish to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to Pastor Kalugo Memzu Tuva for being such a wonderful and reliable "project manager" on the ground. And also to Silvia, our MFP Ambassador who coordinated important steps throughout the project with us.