Gowrie's field visit on 16 September

The school has now started to use the new building and everybody are exited about the new facilities. The formal opening ceremony has been planned for early December as they are insistent that we must be there (and hope Luca or other C&C representative can make it). Work on the new and old toilets are completed, and well finished. There will be instructions for use painted on the side walls.

Our part of the water supply system has been completed, but still waiting for the local government to do the well. However, Ganam builders is also trying to locate some funds to do the well.

Work is ongoing on the repairs to the old school building.

One room in the old building will be used as the library. Request letter has been sent to the Hatton National Bank for the book donation.

The grounds have been cleared and leveled. There will be a secured play ground for the school children and a part for the community. There are insufficient funds for playground equipment. Rs 300,000 is required. We have asked the Principal to search for funds.

New gate will be fixed.

Maddam Trust Field Visit (9). 03.07.2010

Work on the new building is almost completed. Only the floor and the 2nd coat of painting interior and exterior remains to be done. It is salmon pinkish colour (unfortunately not pink as pushed by C&C).
New toilet work almost complete, only need the doors to be fitted. Renovation of old toilet completed. The 2 basins have to be plastered as they are leaking.
Ganam Builders will send an estimate for community based work - repairs to old school building and water supply work. Fence and open air stage has been requested by the school principal if there was sufficient available funds. Luca/C&C please advice.
The playground can be done as community voluntary work.
Next Maddam Trust visit will be in 2 weeks

Gowrie's field Visit to Katpakapuram School - 26.06.2010

The roof of the the school building is being tiled. Once this is completed, there is only a little more work and painting to be finished. Standard will be used colours as it is cheaper.
The structure for the new toilets is complete, only roof and internal fittings need to be installed. Once finished, work will be done on renovating the old toilet, which is only 1 days work.
We have given the plan for the water supply system. Ganam Builders will send an estimate. They have to get some expertise in to see if existing tube well has water!
Community based work - I would like to ask GB to undertake all this work. They have agreed to use Katpakapuram village workers and the principal and the Zonal Education Engineer will supervise. Please approve as I feel now that it will be the fasted and most cost efficient way to proceed. MT does not need to monitor them on a weekly basis. Sam from Friends of Youth will stay on the site (he seems to be very happy with the school children…)
Instead of doing the library, the request from the school, if we we have funds left over is to do the fence. Will send estimates and we will discuss

Summary of Gowrie's field visit 19.06.2010

Gowrie's team visited the site and was pleased to note that the main rafters for supporting the roof of the building have been fixed. Work is ongoing fixing the cross beams. Interior plastering work is continuing. The blackboards have been fixed.

Further, the base for the 4 new toilets has been built. The septic tank was being dug. Once the new toilets are completed, the renovation of the old toilets will start. All toilet work will be finished before the water supply work will commence.

Ther numbers of workers on the site have been increased. Most are from Katpakapuram Village.

Gowrie Field Visit Report - 09.06.2010

This time we went to the site in the late afternoon, unlike in the past which has been during the day. This was also an unannouced visit in order to maintain the element of surprise. All Ganam Builders workers and Sam were there.

Work is progressing rapidly on the building. The steel frames for the roof have been mounted. The plastering of all exterior walls and 1 interior room have been completed.

The foundation has been dug for the new toilets

Almost all the workers on the site were from the Katpakapuram village.
I understand from the Engineer that the work on the school building should be completed in 2 weeks time. We will also do a workplan and a financial plan for the other community based work.

Summary of Gowrie's field visit 29.05.2010

The MT team visited the site well before the planned time in order to add an element of surprise to the visit. We were extremely please to find that Ganam Builders team were in working steadily, with Mr Chandrapalan the supervisor present at the site. We were pleased to note that a remarkable amount of progress has been made in the structure. We were informed that the steel truss which supports the roof has been made and will be mounted on Monday. There were 4 workers from the Katpakapuram village in that days construction team. If work continues at this pace, and good weather holds, it is estimated that all work on the school building can be completed by mid June.

On the toilet and water supply works, we have received estimates from the contractor from the Katpakapuram village contractor and Ganam Builders and we should decide who to give the job in the near future.

Next Field Visit is planned for 5th June

Summary of Gowrie's field visit report, 22th May 2010

Ganam Builders work is progressing extremely well. The Zonal Education Departments’ Engineer has requested them to work daily in order to speed up work and avoid any delays that may arise due to rain ( as of now this is not yet a problem but given the unpredictable weather in the rest of the country it is a good precaution to take).

When we informed the Engineer about the other planned community based works for the toilet and water system, we were told that we could not proceed as planned without the Engineer’s approval. We have reached an agreement whereby the projects can be build under the guidance and close supervision of the Engineer. We are awaiting estimates and drawings, which will be send to C&C/Luca for approval. Later, we will discuss the repair of the floor of the old building, extension of office and playground with the Zonal Education Department Engineer

Next planned field visit is on 29th May 2010.