By Ian Corbett | Shack to Chic Project Lead
Emmanuel Educare Centre has to move from it's exisiting building into the new facility at the end of January 2019. It's a tight deadline and we really want to hit the target. Theoretically, building over the holidays is much easier for the principal, because many children and their families leave Cape Town and return to their homes in the Eastern Cape.
However, here in Cape Town construction sites traditionally close for the annual builder's holiday from mid-December to mid-January - and so do the suppliers. So if you want to build through the end of year holiday you have to be well organised.
Projects such as Emmanuel provide ideal opportunites to partner with local builders and suppliers who tend to be very flexible with their schedules when there is the prospect of work. This is important because it helps us to keep the money we invest in the Mfuleni community which broadens the benefit. Our partners in the community also recognise the benefit their work brings to the children and families who live there, so they do their utmost to make it work for everyone!
The site is small, so storage is challenging. Fortunately our neighbour came to our rescue and allowed us to use his yard. It's great to have the support of the local community members. Even then, phones were ringing as supplier's lorries had to navigate narrow streets and low-hanging electricity cables. Fortunately, with Nontando's help, we made it without any incidents. With hours to spare pallets of blocks arrived on site ready to start the external wall to secure the property - an essential first step in creating a safe environment for the children who will attend the educare.
So progress is on track - the wall is now up and we have moved forward to start with the changes to level the internal floor and move the internal walls to create space for a new ablutions and kitchen.
Watch out for our next report - by then we should have done the main structural changes to the existing walls ready for the building inspector to return from leave so that we can begin work on the new office.
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