September 1, 2008,

Ron - I've attached Moses Binda's update on the Belle project (he's Nate's Liberian manager for this project). Nate is back in Liberia now.

See you Thursday - may have two guests.

George Stewart, Int'l Service Projects Chairman, Girdwood Rotary Club

_______________

SOLACE INTERNATIONAL BELLE YELLA

PROGRESS REPORT THE GOVERNMENT OF LIBERIA

    Project Report of Solace by Solace Representative on the construction project of Belle Yella into Vocational Institution.  This report covers the period of (March 18 – July 1, 2008) and has three segments.

Background

    The Belle Community been one of the many communities in Liberia that is under developed has gone through one of the worst treatment during the civil war because of the past activities that went on there since year 1910 by past governments.

    The population of this community is approx 2000 inhabitants and the only educational activities there are a junior high school.   This school lacks trained teachers and adequate school materials (stationery supplies, books, ect.).

    Solace International in cooperation with George and Kathy Stewart and funding from Patrick Byrne identified Belle Yelle as a primary site for building up the educational standards in the area and to meet the goals of Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia initiatives to build a vocational institution that will increase the educational standards of the area. 

    The school will function primarily as a agricultural vocational training center to teach the local how to better utilize their resources and to farm more efficiently.  The overarching problem is that the Belle Yelle community farms with a “slash and burn” technique and does not utilize crop rotation.  They are cutting down very valuable forests and not using the timber in effective or productive ways.  The school will have a carpentry workshop that will serve to teach the locals how to build value-added products from the timber that is cut down for farming. The school will also encourage more sustainable farming techniques in order to properly manage and conserve the forest. 

    The school will be outfitted with a solar panel and battery system that will be able to handle the charging and running of power tools (up to 15 amps power.) Nathaniel York has procured the solar system and $5,800 worth of tools which are being shipped from Alaska to Monrovia.  The shipment is scheduled to arrive in late-November.

Activities of the first segment

    Solace first visit was made in January, 2008 to assess the needs of the people and the community.  The project commenced on March 18, 2008 in the present of Mr. Livinus A. Jackson, Ghanaian partner, Mr. Kolubah Kpasi, Representative of the Ministry of Education/Informer, and myself Mr. Helvin Moses Binda, Project Manager, also present were Mr. Peter Saywalah, local community leader for development, Mr. Forkpa Karmon, Representative of the Belle Yella Development Association (BYDA) based in Monrovia, Honourable Jallah Massaboi, Township Commissioner of Bella Yella, Mr. Gayflor Y. Zaza, Town Chief and the entire Belle Yella Community were present during the ground breaking ceremony of the project.

    The project got started with the full involvement of the Township citizens and the few work force of Solace International.  During this time the project commenced without cement because there were no available cement at the site due to the lack of motor road to the Township.  The construction went on for two months (March –May 2008), during this time, one building comprising of three class rooms were constructed, using purely dirt to dirt block laying.  This building was constructed to window level and broke down three different times because of the heavy rain fall. 

Segment Two

    Solace International knowing the importance of this project and seeing  the many difficulties, decided to encourage the Township by physically involving ourselves including Mr. Helvin Moses Binda, project manager, Mr. Nathaniel  S. York, Executive Director of Solace International, by physically carrying steel rods, cement, zinc and other assorted materials on our heads along with the Township citizens. Our Executive Director personally carried ten pieces of zinc and ten steel rods and he also carried six by six pillars of wood to a distant.  This served as an encouragement and example to local workers.

    Doing this process, fifty six (56) bags of cements, one hundred and fifty pieces of steel rods, thirty (30) bundles of zinc, ten (10) bags of rice and other constructional materials were carried to Belle Yella  by citizens of the Township on their heads.   And presently there are ten bundles of zinc left at the waterside in Bonkomu District. (About ten hours from Belle Yella Township).

    Second segment of the project commenced upon the arrival of the materials at Belle Yella.  During this time, (May 1- July 1, 2008), the project went on smoothly accept for the heavy rain fall. We constructed two building which each contained three class rooms.  One of these two building is about 80% completed, only left with plastering and hanging of doors.  The second building has been zinc and it is at window level before completion.  Note: The reason is, we roof the building before laying blocks because of the heavy rain fall. 

Segment Three

    Our next phase of construction will begin once the rainy season ends.  This will involve finishing construction of the classrooms and then the building of our two large vocational workshops.  We will also build toilets for the school.  In December upon the arrival of the equipment from the United States Solace International will install the solar panels and the carpentry and wood working equipment.  In addition Solace plans to have an agriculture expert on site to begin the planting of community gardens around the school.  We believe the school will be ready for admission by late-January 2009. 

Community Involvement

    During the process, the community involvements were men, women and teenagers. Which include the hauling of sand, rocks, planks, cooking for workers, and hauling of materials to the site.  The entire project is handled by twelve contractors, two laborers and myself.

Contractors/Laborers

We compensate each contractor with the amount of US$7.00 and US$5.00 for laborers per person respectively.

Constraints/Difficulties

Because of the location of the project of which there is no assess to motor road, we suffered the following:

·       8/29/2008Getting materials on time.

·       Walk many hours before reaching the project site.

·       The rain fall is very heavy and costing serious damages.

·       Getting the local community to work.

·       Lack of medical facilities.

·       Scarcity of food and medication for local workers.

Achievements/Progress

·       Solace was able motivated our workers

·       Motivated township to cooperate totally and physically involving ourselves

·       Constructed two six class room buildings up to 80% and 70% completion which make about 40% of project.

·       Our partners or sponsors always response on time.

Recommendations

Based on the history of Belle Yella up to present which has made if difficult for assess road and for the project complete on time, we recommend the followings:

·       Hauling all materials to the site right after the raining season should be the first priority

·       The Government of Liberia should request the use UNMIL chopper to convey these materials to the site in Belle Yella.

·       Government Representative should made periodic visit to Township to encourage the citizens.

·        The Liberian Government should encourage Solace International to continue their sponsorship of the project.

·       The Government of Liberia with Solace International and donors group should extent this project to the other fourteen counties especially at vulnerable District levels.

·       Solace Liberia, Inc. is now being established. As local non-governmental organization in consultation with Solace International. to carry out all Solace International  and the Government of Liberia Programs and projects in Liberia.

·       It is very important that the Ministry of Education prepare and provide the school with teachers starting in January 2009.  Mr Yonton Kesselly has been consulted on this issue.

This report was prepared on August 29, 2008 by:

Mr. Helvin Moses Binda

Project manager Solace International