Photo Story

This was our canvas. You can clearly see the dozen mounting stubs set 3ft deep ready to accept the structural work. Concrete would be lain between these stubs and up to their height once construction was done. The jigsaw puzzle of bits in the background fit together very well, as the next few photographs will testify.

The nearest and first frame in the photograph is made from 6 pieces bolted together. Each subsequent frame is similarly made and each is then manually hauled into position to fit in it’s stubs. The frames are then attached to each other by longitudinal sections.

A number of differing side frames, doors, ventilation panels are added. A bit of ‘fitting’ was required, but the majority of the components mated up quite well.

Horizontal stability is re-enforced by the installation of longitudinal purling, to which the roof fittings will be affixed.

Shadows indicate noon. Everything looks symmetrical, sturdy and good.

Roofing began in the afternoon. The unrelenting sun proves to be a real hazard, everything is scalding hot to touch!

Harmon, two locals and me set about laying foundation for the water tank base . Polythene sheet is always lain to prevent the water in the mix soaking away

Roof sheeting is attached to the horizontal purlings by clips on the underside. This allows for a completely sealed, hole-less roof.

Freddie E and Sylvester set about cutting and fitting the room dividers to the lateral beams. Internal dividers would be fitted later.

John Gorman, buried in a sea of inquisitive kids, shows them some magic in the form of a digital camera.

Monsignor John Daly blesses our building. The mere presence of such a senior churchman gave us great credibility. (He also mixes concrete quite well too)

Concrete flooring, in-fill brickwork and furnishing are all that are left to make our ICDC functional. Solar powered lighting will also be fitted, all of which is planned for a few weeks time

Our 7 hour journey began with a huge climb into the Highlands of Kenya. After an hour or three we stopped at a place high in the mountains called Eldoret. We took on fuel, light-heartedly discussed a change in music and drank cold Coke. This area is a place where some of the world’s greatest athletes train. At almost 10,000 ft above sea level it gives opportunity for high altitude training in very high temperatures. We drove past runners belting it out around running tracks striving for that personal best. We were about to enter a place Sam informed us was called the ‘bread basket' of Kenya. This Rift Valley Province is normally close to self-sufficiency in food, but having received little or no rainfall crop production was very much lower than expected. Ascending again further towards the Cherangany hills and Kitale, to our western side we saw the giant mountains of Uganda loom ever closer. Eventually we arrived at Kitale and enjoyed a very respectable lunch at the post colonial Kitale Club. It was here that two very good Project Albert friends would join us for the rest of our adventure.

The first to enter was Sylvester Ouko. This splendid character is the happiest, most optimistic man on earth. With a huge, blindingly white smile he immediately began to tell stories each more interesting than the previous, interrupting himself only to let out the loudest, most infectious laugh; the rest of the team warmed to him straight away. Freddie Etiang followed only moments later. Another remarkable fellow, Freddie also has a quick and disarming wit, relentless capacity for work and a reassuring and very confident directness on site. We were later joined by Freddie S. An employee of Africa exchange he, Freddie E and Sylvester were increasingly working together on all manner of projects that Africa Exchange or Bridging the Gap had taken on. These 3 immense characters were the final addition to our team and we would get to know each of them very well.

Kitale at our backs, we drove further north for a few more hours, before turning west towards Uganda and our destination of Nakwijit. The remainder of the trip was off road with some very difficult terrain, but a 4x4 is a great vehicle so we comfortably negotiated anything we came across. Late afternoon and we arrived. This really was the back of beyond. After a 5 minute leg stretch enjoying this peaceful place a shout went out. “Come on guys, get these tents up!” Harrell would make a great Sergeant! With a sinking sun everybody busied themselves with all that domestic stuff you have to do when setting up a campsite. After not too long a fire was lit, surrounded by fold out chairs each occupied by a bloke with a beer, Sam had even thoughtfully brought ice to keep it cool. For dinner we ate Bombay mix and sweets, then chatted till not long after dark. Tomorrow would be a big day so we all turned in early. The African earth was as I remembered, I glanced at my tent-mate Father John who chuckled, “Not very comfy is it?” For middle aged men it certainly wasn’t, we made daft comments till we giggled ourselves to sleep.

Pots were clanging as dawn was breaking. Laughter rang out from Brenden and John’s tent. The insects had feasted on Gorman’s pale English flesh and Brenden thought it hilarious. Not far away Harmon began to sing some obscure country song as I opened one eye and enquired “How’s the hip joints Father?” The Monsignor laughed, “ shuddup and get up!” so we did. Ice doesn’t last long in Africa, but the milk was cool enough for cornflakes to be palatable. Hot, sweet Coffee disappeared as quickly as Sam made it. Steel began to clang, work was beginning. This site had been cleared even to the point of the locals cutting through the vegetation for a kilometre or so to give our vehicles access. The mounting stubs for our construction had been accurately set in levelled ground and all our components were on site, or so we thought.

The day proved extremely productive in that we had way exceeded Sam’s expected progress. It came as no surprise to me, because every Project Albert Team is always primed to give 100% and always exceeds the expected! Supper was to be a couple of cockerels. We dirtily sat around our fire again to be accompanied by supper, or at least half of it. We drank cool(ish) beer and time passed. The local lady appointed as cook had not kept to her schedule, much to Sam’s annoyance. A cockerel, legs tied, looked fed up and scared. Father John turned and said, “If this woman doesn’t turn up, what are we going to do?” “I suppose we’ll eat Bombay mix again” I responded, just as the lady turned up.

With a big smile she scooped up the cockerel and disappeared into the darkness towards a distant fire. Chicken squawking quickly ceased and forty minutes later we devoured chicken stew with loads of Ugale and Kale. The beer however, was getting scarce and warm. We chatted, had fun and duly returned to our tents to collapse. “ Hey, how’s your hips bearing up Father John?” I asked. “Better than the cockrels!” he chuckled. We laughed, then slept.

Sam had allocated 3 days for this construction, but it came as no surprise to anyone that we beat his estimate. Our second day at this remote spot once again began with gallons of coffee, just as the warming sun popped up above the horizon. I can’t think of anything more disgusting than eating cornflakes with warm milk, but it was OK for some; I eventually settled for bread and jam. Spurred on by the previous day’s progress everybody was quickly engaged in productive work.