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The Classroom Now Has Electricity!
16/09/2026
The construction site in Kashitu has seen significant progress over the past few days. Electricity has officially been brought to the new classroom, and the lights inside can now be turned on. At the same time, the trenches for the water and power lines leading to both the classroom and the field have been backfilled. At the compost plant and toilets, the trenches are prepared, and work is underway to connect them to the network.
Work on the classroom roof also continues. The locals are preparing and cutting the timber boards themselves for the roof decking on the trusses. The protective membrane and the clay insulation tiles were gradually brought up onto the structure through a collective effort. This was followed by battens and the installation of the metal roof sheets. The roof is scheduled to be completed next week.
Expanding Infrastructure
Significant progress has been made at the future compost plant. Concrete footings for the fence posts are being poured, with steel pipes being embedded directly into them to serve as fence pillars. Preparations for connecting the toilets to water and electricity are also ongoing.
At the Adventist church, the foundations have been completed, and formwork and reinforcement are being prepared for the reinforced concrete floor slab. That will be poured next week.
The individual elements of the project are now taking clear shape, and several of them are nearing the finish line. We therefore gathered the latest updates from the site and took new photos directly in the field. Another monitoring and consultation meeting with our partners from the UNDP Challenge Fund was coming up.
This was our second such meeting during the grant implementation—the first took place in person directly in Kashitu, and this time online. We were delighted to share good news and show that the work in Zambia is progressing according to plan. It even looks as though we might reach the next project milestone a little earlier than originally scheduled.
An Unexpected Building Challenge
Looking at the amusing side of things: while construction is going smoothly, it also brings unexpected challenges. An oversized urine collection container—intended to sit outside in the sun—was left inside the compost plant's tool shed. The building is already finished and roofed, but the container is 30 centimetres wider than the doorway. A section of the roof will therefore have to be temporarily dismantled to get it out. Such situations are simply part of everyday reality on a building site in Kashitu.
Groundwork for Future Development
Our surveyor David turned his attention to mapping the entire campus area. He began creating a detailed orthophoto map and an accurate digital baseline model of its current state. To achieve precise measurements, an additional part of the land needed to be cleared. On Friday, the team in Kashitu set to work clearing larger bushes and small trees. Low scrub and tall grass were then cleared through controlled burning to make the terrain fully accessible and ensure nothing obstructed the measurements.
We are carrying out the survey with the help of high-precision equipment kindly loaned by Geotronics—specifically the Trimble R980 GNSS receiver. We send a huge thank-you from Kashitu for their support! The receiver is being used to survey the as-built condition of the site as well as to stake out future layout points.
The primary focus has been on the existing conditions—the precise location of buildings and other infrastructure across the area, alongside the elevation profile of the terrain. This data will serve as an essential foundation for further architectural and planning work, helping us better understand the urban layout of the entire campus.
Throughout the week, we will continue by surveying the utility lines. The main deliverable will be a 3D as-built drawing of the site, providing an accurate baseline for all future planning and development in Kashitu.
The Season's Final Volunteers
The final group of volunteers for this construction season has arrived in Kashitu—Verča, David, and Šimon. They will stay in the community for about three weeks to help conclude another important phase of the work.
On Thursday, we also visited the Vinjeru School, where we exchanged valuable experience regarding construction methods, aluminium windows, brick production, grant management, and the overall school development approach. This also opened up potential future cooperation in brick making.
Meanwhile, something exciting is in the making that will soon make its way to the Czech Republic: the women from the sewing workshop have finished bags made for sale, and the first batch is almost on its way to us.
In Kashitu, infrastructure, education, local craftsmanship, and new economic opportunities are coming together side by side with the construction itself. Each week adds another piece to the puzzle of a future school and a thriving community.