Building!

Collecting timber.

I have gone with a bunch of the teenage boys to collect timber for a building project. After a brisk walk we arrive at a forest area with some very recently felled trees scattered about. I am quick to partner with one of the stronger boys and we lift the tree onto our shoulders and begin the 3 km walk back. I can’t help but giggle at how my partner is texting on a borrowed phone, the tree casually balanced on his shoulder while I awkwardly shift my end from side to side trying to watch my step on the tiny track through the field whilst not dropping the weighty tree!

This time in Kenya has seen me doing a lot more practical work, building, painting, varnishing, clearing wood and concreting. The building is always heavily complicated by availability and quality of materials- wooden posts in actual fact being whole trees as a prime example! So many times we will stop, look at our work and realise- despite our careful measuring and use of the level and square- things don't quite line up. But at the end of the day, it always works out good enough :) 

Construction of our rabbit cage

The highlight of this has been the animal projects that we have been working on at the coastal children’s home. Zero graze cow shed, sheep and goat pen, rabbit breeding cage and hen house- with the last two being built by just me and Abi (in a stubborn effort to prove that girls can do physical work!).

Our rabbit breeding cage is an awesome learning tool for the kids here- they are required to fetch food for the rabbits and clean out their cages and in return will benefit from their nutritious meat from the offspring of the breeders- a prospect they are all very excited about!

Our finished hen house :)

Maja cleaning out the cages

Before and after- our rabbit breeding program :)