At the end of August, we successfully completed the trusses for the roof – this time without the help of a crane, unlike last year. Everything was done by hand because we didn't assemble the trusses on the ground, but directly on the building itself. Once all the trusses were in place, we attached the tie beams, and electricians joined...
At the current stage of construction, we focused on the foundation structures. The foundation footings were built using concrete blocks with a bottom. This system differs from common practice in the Czech Republic – there, blocks are typically used as permanent formwork, filled with concrete throughout. In Zambia, however, the blocks have a bottom...
The work of our construction manager Vašek is coming to an end, and in order to stay on schedule we are even working on weekends. In Kashitu, the WiFi was down for half the week, so nothing distracted us from the construction site. Thanks to the tireless efforts of our workers, we have achieved great progress – the...
The construction of the Kashitu Secondary School campus continues with the realization of its third building. In cooperation with the local non-profit organization New Renato Community Society, we are now focusing on the first facility designed directly for educational purposes – a beekeeping laboratory. This step represents a fundamental shift in...
Over the past few weeks, we've mainly been busy with bricklaying and tiling, but there were also plenty of more interesting moments worth mentioning.
On Thursday, July 10, Bára and Sofi arrived. After purchasing SIM cards, exchanging money, and moving to Kashitu, they spent Saturday pouring the foundation slab for the new laboratory. Although they did not manage to complete the entire area, two-thirds of it was successfully finished by the evening!
On Saturday evening, our team – Anežka, Vašek, and Eda – arrived safely in Kashitu. After a warm welcome from the local community, they shared dinner and held their first face-to-face conversations about ongoing projects and future plans. Before that, they spent a day in Lusaka to handle logistics and pick up essential materials – like extension...
The main stage of the beekeeping lab construction is about to begin. Vašek, the lead architect and site manager, will fly to Zambia on July 3rd and spend a month and a half there. A demanding but crucial phase of the build awaits him – the goal is to complete the structure up to the ring beam and prepare for the roof....
The first group of volunteers is currently in Zambia and brings great news – the building's foundations are almost complete! The ground has been cleared, trenches dug, concrete poured, and the foundation walls built. Right now, the local team is focused on producing bricks, which need to cure properly before further construction can continue.
A lot has happened in recent months as we planned this year's activities. We've met many new faces, traveled with our exhibition, and formed partnerships that have the potential to last for years.
Over the weekend of April 26–27, we gathered for a teambuilding workshop in the pleasant surroundings of Villa Vallila. Many of our Kashitu volunteers joined us – mostly university students from Brno, Prague, and Ústí nad Labem – who are involved in preparing the project in Zambia, whether they are joining the trip this year or contributing from...
