Grading is complete. Moving now to mobilize the local community to dig drainage ditches, level infill, sieve marram and make ISSBs.
Estimate enough marram has been excavated for all the ISSBs required (24,000) but will need to buy additional hardcore.
ISSB:
2nd machine available from Paul/Robert – JK to arrange – machine needs to be onsite within 2 weeks.
DG and Dan delivered test bricks to lab – will be tested on Monday and results back Thur. All bricks to be wet tested as this is their weakest condition.
Training to take place 1 – 4 June. DG to schedule with Dan and local community. DG to arrange cement and water.
Local Community:
Meeting took place to outline work/contribution sought – dig foundations, make bricks, provide food, unskilled labour for mixing, carrying etc, provision of water, dig drainage ditches, level excess infill, keep site tidy, and possibility of paid work for skilled workers. Response was very encouraging.
Tender Package:
Tenders received form Johann and Paul. Still awaiting from Robert – he is MIA – DG has been unable to contact him since Tuesday.
Received tenders have been compared with Dan’s original estimate and Soft Power estimates, and distributed to the team.
DG still awaiting additional info (drawings and BoQs) for Mpigi, Gita, Lutisi, Kiyumba.
DG to inform contractors of results and meet Paul to negotiate.
Budget/VE Revisions
Option to reduce floor area proposed by design team – save approx 2M/$900 per block. Accepted.
Other design reductions considered: make each block a pure rectangle, remove concrete and steel from piers, remove solar chimney, remove infill wall, replace timber above ring beam with fired bricks. General agreement that these options excessively compromise the quality and intent of the project. We did not set out to build “just another classroom”.
Labour only contract is viable option for this project with DG and Dan involved. Other BT staff will need to be trained for this model to be sustainable on future projects.
Meeting with Irish Aid was not immediately useful as their work is very very different. However, Irish Aid recommended meeting with and introduced DG to Tinka (Ministry of Education) to discuss design and budget, and Justus (Proplan Partners)to advise on quality control.DG to meet both parties this week.
AOB
Japanese documentary ‘Mission” aired on NHK on Sunday evening.
JK, Apollo, and DG met group of 8 students from Notre Dame and De Paul University, plus Maggie from BT HQ for intros and orientation on Saturday. They will be in Uganda for 21 days to work on the construction of a school they designed for BT. DG to visit site and collectively review drawings, BoQs and construction.
Supported by 
Weekly Update #6: May 24, 2010
Site:
ISSB:
Local Community:
Tender Package:
Budget/VE Revisions
AOB