School expansion continues apace

Expansion of the Quest Pre-primary and Primary School in the shanty town of Villa Maria, Peru has been going great guns.  Here's the story of the work so far...

With a generous £6,500 donation from the Allen & Nesta Ferguson Trust, we long-leased and renovate the single storey building next door, making the floors and walls fit for purpose and turning it into a usable space for communal activities such as assemblies and indoor arts events.  This was finished in time for the opening of the school year in March.

With a 2nd fantastic grant of £4,750 from the Evan Cornish Foundation, we have been able to complete the majority of work on a second storey.  Using these funds, we have completed four new wooden classrooms with sound proofing and insulation.  Also installed have been the necessary sanitation facilities.

Summary of Achievements to Oct 2011:

• All 4 classrooms completed with walls and roof. 
• Sound-absorbing insulation installed between each classroom, ensuring minimal noise interruption between classes. 
• Toilets and hand-washing facilities completed, with plumbing installed.
• Main structures for 1st floor completed: surrounding safety wall; reinforcing perimeter columns; main entrance.

But the work's not finished yet...

STILL TO DO:

The majority of structural work has been finished, but there remain a few bits to complete the build and make it ready to be a part of a working school, in time for March’s new school year. Yet to be built are:

• the main stairway connecting the 1st floor with the ground floor 
• a stairway connecting the older part of the school with the new build
• a 5th wooden classroom, intended as a computer room in the future
• windows and electrics for the classrooms
• surfacing of the concrete floor
• hygienic finishing of the toilet areas

With funds raised by ex-volunteer Chantel Owen and her father, through a sponsored bike ride from London to Paris, we will also be able to furnish the classrooms.  Thanks Chantel and Harry!

Another thank you is due to Katie Ashbridge's friends and family, for all their fantastic support over the years for the Quest School. The below plaque has also been put up inside the School:

"This school has been supported in its continuing improvement by funds raised by friends and family of Katie Ashbridge. Katie was a well-loved volunteer with Quest Overseas in 2000, and donations continue to be made in her memory."

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There are currently 110 children enrolled at the school between the ages of 3 and 7 but this extension will allow the school to accept 180 children up to the age of 11. This will be yet another step towards our project director Alejandro’s dream of having an educational structure which takes kids from pre-school all the way through to teaching them a technical skill such as carpentry or electrician training. Expanding the school this year will also make it possible for us to set up an adult education programme, using this building, and in particular the proposed new computer room, which will help improve employment possibilities for local residents. In a district where the opportunities for adults and children in the area are extremely limited, we’re delighted that we’re able to help reverse this situation.

The finishing work is projected to cost around £3,500, and we are busy fundraising for this.  

If you would like to be involved in fundraising for the Villa Maria School Expansion, please email Rose or call 01273 777206.