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Construction updates
August 2021: Their own property and home
Renting a place where 30 children can stay, is very expensive. Because BCM was struggling with to little space, and to little toilets and showers, getting their own house was very much needed. By our prayers God made a way to construct this part of the house. And although BCM has a licence to be a childrens home, they local authority gives strict requirements. BCM's time to meet those requirements was getting over. They where planning to remove the children from BCM. God was right on time with making a way for BCM to stay open, by giving the donation of this piece of land and the possibility of building this house.
We managed to open the house, even though the house was not fully finished. On the roof they have solar pannels to provide them from electricity. They are to far from the power lines. It has been a challenge to make the solar work well enough to charge a phone or make a blender work. Especially when they have a rainy day. There are still improvements needed. Also to have the well to give clean enough water, and to have it run inside of the house, demands some more adjustments which asks financial resources.
The unfinished house on the property owned by BCM
The construction of the fence in 2019.
The construction of the foundation of the house in 2020.
After the roof is finished, they started on the windows, doors and inside plastering.
The plastering of the ceiling is done by standing on these beams.
Our engineer, Geoffrey was keeping a close eye to make the construction go fast and smoothly.
Because the kitchen is only entered from the outside, they finished it after the main house. The reason for entering from outside is that this way is neutral ground. Buy guidance of staff, the kitchen can be entered by boys and girls.
Without the house being completely finished, the kids came to live in it. The move was urgent, because of the circumstances of the previous place they rented., which caused serious problems. At the days the house had it's official opening, we celebrated with cake and a celebration meal.
This net and ball where donated to the children, to celebrate their new home.
Rules...
The government sets requirements for the orphanage so it can be registered as a non-profit organization. One of the rules is that boys and girls have to live in seperate buildings. To be able to fulfil all the requiremenst, we need a lot of funds to come in. To be able to fund a second building is the the most expencive requirement.
We believe that God can help us to succeed in this. Step by step we first focus on the smaller requirements, that provide children to keep hygiene. For the boys a shower is needed, which they don't have right now.
The way the government keeps orphnages keep those rules is through the local probation officer. He is the one inspecting propperties on a regular basis. He is authorized to close a home if they dont follow the rules. Unfortunately BCM is pressured by these rules. Thats why we give our best to keep improving
2021: The kitchen is finished!
The kitchen was supported last year, and already finished in October 2021. Happy as we were, we also found out that our own saucepans didn't fit in the wholes of the stove. The pans fit exactly in the holes, so that smoke is sucked outside through the pipe. These new saucepans were donated to us in March 2022. God provided us right on time! Because we used our old pans, which were also not from the right material, the fire had burned holes in them.
Since the kitchen was made, the cooking fire was no longer quenched by the rain. Uganda can have daily rainfall, and therefor had spoiled a lot of our meals.
We are very thankful for the shelter of the kitchen, so we can eat what we cook, and also prepare in the shade.
August 2022: Installment of the waterpump
The well itself has been constructed even before the house was built. Untill this day, they have been using the well with a bucket. The well is not meant to be used this way. Sand can get stirred up. Someone can fall in. And it also becomes a problem in dryer times. There is not enough water at the surface to scoop.
The water is supposed to be sucked out of the well with a pump system. This keeps the water clean. Some support for the construction has still been coming in, even though we have not been able to do a any fundraising project the past time. The good news is that we are almost able to fullfill the next step, which is to complete the pumpsystem. The pump and the solar panel are present, but
we missing some oher needed parts.
Still needed are:
> A battery so the pump still works on a rany and cloudy day.
> Granulate to keep the water clean.
> The pipes in the house need to be closed off. And if all the materials are ready, also the well will be finished and sealed. Inside of the house, some plumbing needs to be done before the water can be used inside the house.
All together we miss 300 euro to complete this job.
Update on Ocober 1st.
October 2022: Requirements set by the government
The probation officer is responsible for fascilities for homeless and orphan children. He pays visits on a regular base to see wether regulations are met. BCM is not yet able to meet those standards. One of the things that need improvement, is the fascility to bath. The girls have a corridor infront of their entrance, that is closed of with a gate that gives them privicy. They use this area to bath themselves in the evening. There is no water drainage in this area, and no pavement. In the water becomes stagnent mosquitos start to multiply and give cause to spread malaria. Also the wall is not well finished. And that allows boys from the neighbourhood to peek in from outside if the girls are bathing.
The probation officer is now demanding that these issues are solved, and puts big pressure on this changes. He can give BCM a fine, or decide to close the childrenshome temporarily or permanently. Right now we do everything we can to come to the financial support to finish this work. All together we need 1500 euro to finish all the demanded changes the officer imposes on BCM. If you want to support us, you can push the green button above this paragraph. Every amount is greatly appreciated!
October 29th, 2022: We made it to the 1500 euro!! And...
We have been overwhelmed by how well people have been responding to our emergency fundraising! It has been heart-warming to experience that others see the need of helping BCM to prosper.
We even made it past the 1500 euro we needed! Which means that we got to finish the well completely. And even did some of the the plumbing inside of the house!
The probation officer is satisfied for the time being. Because he has set the next deadline for the last mandatory change on the land. This is for the septic tank. To make sure that typhoid contamination is not springing forth from the facilities on the land itself. The faeces that is gathered in the pit of the latrine is seen as a possible cause of a typhoid contamination of the well.
This next step of constructing a septic tank is gonna cost 5000 euro. Soon we will start with our next fundraising project, to make it to this amount. Because the deadline for this is set on November 28th of 2022!!
We are so glad that this is the last time that closing is used as a thread to get to this change. Anyone that wants to help us
out already, can follow the support button.
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Thank you all so much for joining in the love and encouragement and standing behind the work of BCM!!