Today we wrapped up the 1st part of the trip, the school construction project that we coordinated with Catholic Relief Services (CRS). It has been a huge success! The group really came together and functioned as a team. The coordination with CRS couldn’t have been better.
First thing we did today was attend to a few finishing details on the project. Then there was a official gathering to turn over the project to the community. It was attended by local officials, the “mayor” the head of the party, the person in charge of education, the school principle, all of us project volunteers and people from the local community. Gifts were exchanged.
After the speeches, there was a Buddhist ceremony of appreciation. We sat around some flower arrangements, prayers were said, and then adults from the community went around and tied cotton strings around our wrist. I assume this was a sign of appreciation and connection. There seemed to be a genuine feeling of appreciation from the community.
I would be lying if I said that I don’t take pride in the playground. The kids have been all over it and there is hardly a minute when the swings aren’t being used. I just hope it holds up. All of the wood you see, except for the flooring, is hardwood. It is very difficult to work with and getting nails through it is a real task. The structure has to be hardwood or it will severely deteriorate during the rainy season. Working with this stuff is nothing like working with Northern Pine. The wood is very interesting in that it doesn’t tend to split if you drive a nail through it. Getting a nail straight through it is the hard part. North American Oak, for instance, tends to split when you drive a nail through it. The flooring is a softer wood so we coated it with a creosote preservative. We hope it will last for several years before needing replacement.
Kids using the playground. In the back you can see the progress of the construction of the new classrooms.
When we left the site everyone was waving and wishing us well. As Raymond Chew observed, “We have brought some joy into some people’s lives.”
My right wrist with the strings tied after the Buddhist ceremony.