Renovation of the Brobo Youth Vocational Training Center August 4 - October 6, 1996 Brobo, Cote d'Ivoire Funded by: IDI Implemented by: ICA Cote d:Ivoire, ICA Japan and local people
PROJECT OVERVIEW Brobo is a town in Brobo sub-prefecture, with about 4,000 residents. The population there has been increasing rapidly because of high birth rate and influx of refugees from strife-ridden, neighbouring countries. Unemployment is a serious problem, and the youth go to cities searching for a job, or stay idle in their village. In 1995, vocational training courses in carpentry, sewing and hairdressing for 35 trainees were established in a building which needed repair. This training center was renovated during the school break in 1996. Reinforced doors, windows and new roofing were installed. Toilets and wash rooms were added, and equipped with lighting and running water. Trainees can now be trained in a comfortable environment, and training materials can be left behind without risk of theft.
The newly opened youth training center awaits students of the new school year.
The Community Situation
1. Brobo is a sub-prefecture with a population of 4,000. The house is made of mud and the roof made of straw.
	2. Unemployment rate of Brobo is high, and it is difficult for many young people to get a job.
	3. To solve this youth problem, the youth vocational training in hairdressing, weaving, dressmaking and carpentry started in1995. It was risky to hold this training program in this building with structural problems and a rundown appearance.
The status before renovation
	4. Vocational training center before renovation. The building has been borrowed from the Brobo local government. It was ruined quite badly since it had not been maintained for more than 10 years. The eaves were half destroyed.
	5. The back of the building. The wooden-made doors and shutters were so easily opened that it was burglarized before. Therefore, the training materials such as sewing machine could not be safely left.
	6A. Inside of the building. It was built for storage, and did not have suitable space for training.
6B. The plan for renovation of the training center made by Mr. Miyazawa .
Replacing of roof, eaves and ceiling
	7. The roof was so badly ruined that it needed to be totally replaced.
	8. Due to many leaking problems, the old thin zinc roof was removed .
	9. A new roof is laid .
	10. Laying the new roof. Strong, new iron sheets are used.
	11. 12. Fixing the eaves and painting the outside of the building white.
Painting the Ceiling and Walls
	13. Installing the ceiling. It is also for insulating against the heat.
	14. Painting the inside of the building. The ceiling was painted white and the walls pink.
Installation of iron-made doors and shutters
	15. the wooden door Installing an iron-made door.
	16. The iron-made door completed. The center now can keep important materials safely.
	17. Installing an iron-made window frame.
	18. The iron window frame completed. All the doors and windows were replaced with ones made of iron.
	19. A burglar-proof iron net was installed on the outdoor light.
Remaking of the cement floor
	20. Removing the stage at the front of the room. It was lowered to the same level of the remaining floor.
	21. Placing concrete on the floor.
	22. New concrete was placed over the old one.
Placing of Partition and Washing Basin
	23. Curtains were installed to divide the room into separate sections for each training course.
	24. Wooden partitions were used to divide the room into sub-sections for each grade. These partitions helped reduce noise and disturbances between the classes.
	25. A washing basin was installed for the hairdressing course. Before, the trainees had to bring water from a well far from the training center.
	26. Trainees clean the inside of the completed building. The total of 72 people participated in the vocational training in the school year September1995 - August 1996.
	27. Inside of the renovated building.
	28. This renovation improves the academic environment, providing electricity and running water in addition to a beautiful and secure building.
Construction of Toilets
	29. Digging ground to build a toilet. The toilet was built beside the training center.
	30. Laying bricks for the toilet.
	31. There used to be no toilet, so having a toilet means a lot in terms of health and sanitation.
	32. Installing a new stool. It is a flush toilet.
	33. Installing waterworks. The distance from the main waterpipe to the building is 20 meters.
Construction of ceptic tank
	34. The foundations for the septic tank. A septic tank was made near the toilet.
	35. The foundations are covered with cement. Reinforced concrete was used for the bottom of the tank.
	36. Bricks are laid on the cement.
	37. Finishing the wall of the tank.
	38. The septic tank was covered with wooden boards.
The renovated building
	39. The completed training building (front).
	40. 41. The side and back of the center. The number of students are expected to double in the school year1996.9-1997.8.
	42. Acacia is planted. This gives a positive environmental impact since the building is surrounded by wasteland.
	43. A signboard of the training center placed right next to the main road to Bouake.
	44. The new plants surrounding the building have grown well.
45. The new building and space design was designed by Mr. Miyazawa in anticipation of expanding the training program to serve about 200 people from the current capacity of 50 students. This is the best of three designs by Mr. Miyazawa.

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