The Construction of the St. Benet's School for Peace

This page is about the building of the 'St. Benet's School for Peace' in the village of Chamalale which is about 8 km north of the southern Congo city of Lubumbashi

Plans for the new school building

The new school which opened in the autumn of 2005, is called 'St. Benet's School for Peace'. It is twinned with St. Benet's Catholic Primary School in Beccles, England; hence the name. It is from the Beccles area that most of the fund-raising for the school has taken place

There is a pretty standard, well tried and functional design for schools in this region. The climate requires protection from the heat and sun plus, in the rainy season, water. Classrooms will have doors and windows but no glass is needed in them thus providing the needed shade and ventilation. All the school furniture was made in the joinery workshops of the Cit� des Jeunes, the centre where older ex-street children are taught trades thus benefiting another vital project. The stones for the foundations had to be brought in from elsewhere in Congo but the bricks were made on site (see making bricks page). The roof is corrugated sheets. Along the front of the row of classrooms is a covered walkway to provide shelter from sun and rain

Floor Plan This is the original plan for the school. At present, there are toilets only at one end	Click for a larger version
The progress of the school as at November, 2004 The bricks for the build were made and fired on site. The roof is corrugated sheets	Click for a larger version
Close-up of the quarried rocks for the footings and the walls under construction These rocks were quarried elsewhere in Congo brought in by lorry	Click for a larger version
The walls almost ready for a roof The walls at the far end show the pitch the roof will have	Click for a larger version
The walls nearing completion The builders working to get the school finished in time for its opening date	Click for a larger version
The school almost finished The St. Benet's School for Peace in September 2005 nearing completion	Click for a larger version
Building the toilet block Toilet facilities under construction	Click for a larger version
This lady donated land for a school This is Mama Antoinette who donated all her land for a school to be built. All she wanted in return was a little house to live in	Click for a larger version
The official opening ceremony There was a festive and colourful opening celebration	Click for a larger version
Arch-bishop Songa Songa opened the school Arch-bishop Floribert Songa Songa came to open the school in September 2005	Click for a larger version
One of the classrooms This is the inside of one of the finished classrooms equipped with furnitre built by ex street children	Click for a larger version
The other end of the classroom The teacher uses a large blackboard to present work for the children	Click for a larger version
The school serving the local community The school opened in September 2005 to provide an education for the children of Chamalale	Click for a larger version