Youth Training Center Construction

April 1997 - March 1998
Brobo, Cote d'Ivore

Implemented by: ICA Cote d'Ivore, ICA Japan, and local people

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Vocational Training for Youth

Brobo is a town in the Brobo sub-prefecture with about 4,000 residents. The population there has been increasing rapidly because of the high birth rate and the 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, weaving, sewing and hairdressing for 35 trainees were established and this training center was renovated during the school break in 1996. We are continuing to support this program providing training materials, instructors' salaries and Japanese technical support of the program. We are also expanding the facilities so that we can train at least 100 students each year.

1. A New training center is being constructed for the increasing number of students. They are beginning the foundation work after finishing the land measurement.

Before Construction
2. Demonstration Farm Project Evaluation meeting. We discuss about problems and solutions, planning for the future.
3. Plenty of villagers gather for the opening of the Thursday market. Everything is available there, like, local vegetables, clay pots, batik clothes, firewood, general merchandise, used clothes, yam, potatoes, and so on.
4. Various powders such as tomato, okra and fish powder, garlic and small onions are sold.
5. The empty lot for the New Training Center is covered with brush.
6. The road on which the New Training Center will be.
7. The ground breaking ceremony was attended by the Brobo mayor, elders and other villagers. After telling the history of Brobo, sacred water was offered to Mother Earth.
?@ Land Surveyance
8. Measuring around the construction site is done with a surveying instrument.
9. Clearing is done before landscaping.
?@ Making Building Blocks
10. Mixing sand, cement and water for blocks.
11. Taking off the "Block 20" frames. It dries quite easily after only a few days during the long dry season.
12. Blocks, after drying, are carried to the construction site.
?@ Beginning the Foundation Work
13. Leveling is being done for laying blocks.

 

Making A Wall

14. Setting up a wooden frame to support the concrete.
15. Water is carried from the well for making mortar.
16. Scene of the completed foundation work.
17. Laying bricks.
18. On this side, classroom 1, the office, classroom 2 and the terrace can be seen. A washroom will be located behind the office.
19. Digging a hole for the septic tank for the washroom. It's 2x2x2.8m deep. A pick is used because the soil is very dry and hard during the long dry season.
20. The septic tank hole is complete and the wall on the backside of the building is finished, ready for roof construction.
?@ Constructing the Walls and the Terrace
21. The walls are finished. At the left, the entrance to the office. On the right, one of two classrooms.
22. Constructing molds for cement pillars on the terrace.
23. Completed pillars on the terrace.
24. Carpenters working on the roof support.
25. Setting of the iron sheets (the roof) is half finished.
26. The doors are put in place and their installation is set with cement. In the beginning the doors are glued shut to prevent them from deforming. Therefore the installation of one window per classroom was postponed till the doors could be opened.
27. Covering the outside walls with cement.
28. The back side of the building. The outside wall is finished.
29. Cementing the floor of the terrace. All the windows are in place and the outside walls are painted.
30. Working on the ceiling of one of the classrooms. After the long lumber is placed from one edge to the other, they will be veneered.
31. Painting the ceiling of a classroom. Two layers are applied.
32. Inside the classroom. The first layer is finished.
33. Carpenters working on the chairs, tables, cupboards and blackboards that were ordered.
34. New computer and printer for the office in the new building.
35. The building seen from the front. It is almost finished. There remains only the second layer of painting and some details inside.
36. Weeding in front of the building. Later, we are planning to plant some flowers.
37. The completed Vocational Training Center ready for classes to begin.

 

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