#pepel

Day II.3 - Treatment and Prevention

In the morning we ran some errands and bought small items for the site in the local shops around Lungi. Then we went back to Pepel for further damage assessment.

We observed that some of the bamboo suffered damage by insects that have damaged parts of the culms so we are coming up with a method on how to treat it. The likely treatment will consist of a heat inducing method that will drive out the pest and then the application of chemicals to prevent them from coming back and a final layer of varnish.

Ashes to ashes

My body’s covered in rashes

And from the grasses

Roses grow in red patches

Ashes… ashes…

Ashes… ashes…

Come to her meadow

Let us play in her flowers

Hide and seek with the White Ghost

We’ll be here for hours

Ashes, you offer a posie

Ashes, your crown grows roses

Ashes, broken from the beginning

Ashes, my third eye has opened

Overtaken

My soul was from the violence

Overtaken

My mind was by the violet

The king

Lost everything

The prince

Forgot what to miss

Solitary dynasty

Bereft of happiness

It’s snowing ash

I break like glass

It’s hailing stones

They break like glass

It’s raining fire

I cut the wire

The last stone falls

She breaks like glass

The admirals of war

Sailed their triremes

The admirals of war

Days 51-60 and Departure.

A few weeks have passed since the last update from Pepel. This post will sum up the final steps that took place on the construction site in April before the last member of our team left the site. - The last days in Pepel certainly were the most stressful ones we had in the time that we have spent there. The time pressure could really be felt, as the departure date approached quickly. Even though our team was gradually getting smaller over time, we managed to achieve a lot in these final moments. The collective effort drained a lot of energy from everyone involved, the students and the local site crew but the result was rewarding. Unfortunately, illness also struck our camp, so that we were indeed reaching our physical limits.

-

Day 51 (Sunday), 7.4.2019 – The last classroom receives its final bamboo culms so that it stands ready for the ventilation layer made from bamboo mattes.

Day 52, 8.4.2019 – A larger batch of students flies out from the airport in Lungi, reducing us only about half a dozen remaining members of the team. It was a busy day with the first wall to be plastered in accordance with the recipe that had been developed in advance. A mixture that includes hydrated lime and sand from Lungi (which provides a much finer graining as the coarse sand that is coming from the mines of the North. Moreover, the colour is pleasing in its lightness that is by far easier to blend with the lime as the orange hue) as their main components.

Day 53, 9.4.2019 – The roofing is now the biggest remaining piece of work left and means that everyone is helping together to cover the rooms that have not been cladded so far, beginning with the niches.

Day 54, 10.4.2019 – In a concentrated effort the remaining workforce is focusing in bringing the remaining roofs to a finish.

Day 55, 11.4.2019 – As not enough roofing sheets have been delivered, we realize that we need additional ones to finish the work urgently. In a last minute effort to secure the supply, the local representatives of the community are asked for help to deliver the sheets by boat from Freetown, however an agreement can not be struck, meaning another boat crew is contracted to bring the sheets from the warehouse in Freetown to the jetty in Pepel.

Day 56, 12.4.2019 – As we have already extended our stay by more than a week our departure is nearing, and the outstanding work is still demanding, the roofs have not been finished, the teacher’s room is still lacking the missing roofing sheets. The crunch time leaves everyone tired and it is clear that our last resources of impetus are almost finished. However in the evening the sheets arrive by boat and some progress is made with the plastering.

Day 57, 13.4.2019 –As the final steps of the roofing of the last room take place, a technical handover of the project is executed with Klaas, the representative of Forikolo and the local workers. All the remaining areas were dealt with in order to give the most comprehensive handover possible and to ensure that when our team from Technical University of Munich has left the site the local community is well equipped to finish the building. As the roofing was finished during the day, all  the major building elements - foundation, walls and roof – have been put in place, so that the school will withstand the rainy season which leaves us delighted. Yet the project is far from being completed and important works still have to be executed. Though as the funds have been used up, the plaster, the screed and the furniture have yet to be completed. We hope that the money for these steps can be fundraised as soon as possible.

Day 58 (Sunday), 14.4.2019 – Official Last Day / Handover Ceremony – As the technical handover had been executed the previous day, this Sunday is the day for the official handover ceremony. Honourable Abu Mansaray ispresent and everyone who participated in the building process in any way (from the ladies fetching the water to the welders to the concrete crew to the masons and many more) is awarded a certificate. This amounts to more than 200 people overall, which of course the high level of involvement of the community. As everyone gathers under the roof of the hall, it is overwhelming to see everyone, and a sense of solemnity is palpable. It is clear also that our departure is imminent, so we use this opportunity to thank everyone involved and say goodbye. After the ceremony is over the fact that our time in Pepel is finally coming to an end really resonates with the group and despite our physical exhaustion a certain degree of sadness that we will leave this village takes hold.

Day 59, 15.4.2019 – Wrapping up - Our departure is organized bit by bit and we collect the tools to be left with forikolo and a final clean-up takes place. By now the rooms in which 20 people have slept during the peak times are almost empty and we are down to seven people on the ground. It is painful to say goodbye to everyone and to leave despite the school not being finished. However as the work has reached a point where we can see it will survive the rainy season our biggest worries are alleviated.

Day II.2 - Counting stock

Day 50 – Cleaning Day II / Roofing

Due to Cleaning Day a general prohibition of any work is issued by the government which translates to a standstill of the work on the site, as any violation of the ban may have serious consequences.

The involuntary break gives everyone the possibility to unwind a little and enjoy a relaxed morning. The first group of students is leaving the site today, as the official building time has elapsed and the end of the construction activities by TUM students is approaching. 

As the cladding is about to be finished on the library, the first rafters are being mounted in the last classroom. With the usual routine of work after the ring beam is stripped of its formwork the columns are set up in the rear and in the front. Furthermore the preparations for all the remaining rooms can happen as all of them have now reached the final height and are ready for the bamboo construction.

It becomes increasingly clear that with a constantly reducing amount of people on site and the last group of students leaving in the very near future, the next week of the construction is crucial if the goal of finishing the roofing is to be upheld.  

Day 37 - Moving ahead with the roof

The remaining bamboo mats were brought up the roof and fixed with the battens as to prepare the roof for the ventilation layer below the roofing zincs that will be achieved by means of more timber battens that serve to level the room. Climbing on the roof is not at all as problematic as it seems since thepa rafters are fixed in reasonable distance from each other in order to facilitate the walking.

The battens are fixed with power drills to serve as the both the fixing of the mats as well as the roofing zincs. For that a single batten is always fixed on top of a bamboo rafter with thread rods in which many screws can be drilled again without running the risk of splitting the bamboo.