Elikia Village Project

DECEMBER 2007

How important is it to build relationships with the neighbours of the Elikia site? VERY! This has been a slow but intentional process over the past year and one that has prompted us to change our building plans for 2008. We believe that building the school first will solidify our relations and ease the process of bringing in new families into the area. With several work teams due to arrive this summer we hope to have the school completed by the end of the year!

Due to heavy rains we are always trying to prevent erosion by sandbagging and building retaining walls. This was work done on the water reservoir at the bottom of the site. We are waiting for an American company to come out and take a look at our water project. We are hoping for February! If we can get water piped up to the top of the hill it means building will be able to begin! Much cementwork requires much water and carrying it up from the bottom of the hill just isn’t feasible for such a large project.

Our roadway and access to the Elikia site is finally cleared!

NOVEMBER 2007

450 Eucalyptus trees were purchased in October for planting on the perimeter of the Elikia site. The lines have been cleared and over 100 trees have been planted thus far.

The roadway to the site is being cleared of trees, brush, rocks, etc. We have approximately 800 meters to clear and then we can access our site by car! We have a work team on site clearing by hoe and shovel.

An update on our steel fenceposts … 15 posts were stolen so we have halted that part of the fencing project. Those posts were returned amazingly enough but because we have built such good relationships with the soldiers adjacent to our site, they are keeping a good watch on our site now:) With the trees being planted we may not need to continue with the posts which means we can use them in another area of the project!

JULY/AUGUST 2007

PERIMETER FENCE:

100 steel fenceposts have been purchased. Posts holes are being dug and gravel/cement has been purchased.
The immediate need of establishing a visible perimeter to protect against encroachment and “sqatters” is why steel posts have been selected and the design will be 1 steel post (2 m tall x 10cms dia.) every 10 meters cemented into the posts holes. When rainy season begins in October we will begin planting trees between the posts. This, we feel is a good solution for our desire to have as natural a perimeter fence look as possible. We are very excited to see this stage begin!

SECURITY GUARD HOUSE:

another required element in the village is security.We have hired a Congolese man to be our guard but before he can begin there needs to be shelter for him on our land as it is still devoid of buildings. For now it will be a temporary stick shelter.
ARCHITECT:

BUILDING:

our projected date for our first build is January 2008.