Part 1/3: Roof rises

Another week in Kashitu was once again full of work, movement, and key milestones that are gradually turning our long-term vision into reality. And even though there is still a lot of work ahead of us, each new day shows that change is no longer just a plan on paper. It is unfolding right before our eyes.

The trusses are up. A new classroom begins to take shape.

One of the major highlights of this week was completing the trusses, fitting them onto the finished reinforced concrete ring beam of the classroom, and subsequently lifting them into their final position. The trusses are anchored to the reinforced concrete ring beam, and their mutual alignment and stability are secured by roof bracing. The roof framework is thus already standing, and the building is slowly getting covered. This year, we focused on the roof in collaboration with the company Projectman, and we thank them for a long-term partnership that yields concrete results right in the heart of the local community.

Now we are working on mounting the wooden sheathing, onto which clay shingles will subsequently be laid. We talked about these last year when we used them on-site for the first time. In the roof design, they act as a thermal mass layer—thanks to their weight and ability to accumulate heat, they help stabilize the indoor temperature and slow down its overheating during hot days.

At the same time, clay shingles play a significant role in acoustics. In simple structures, the sound of raindrops falling during the rainy season can be very loud, especially when long and intense downpours arrive. A thicker layer of clay shingles muffle this noise and improves the acoustic comfort inside the classroom. It is essential to think about these seemingly minor details—children and teachers will spend the whole day in this space, and for quality and effective education, it is crucial to create an indoor environment that supports concentration and comfort.

Alongside the construction itself, important infrastructure work also continued. Excavation for water and electricity utility lines has begun, and we successfully ran water to the agricultural test field that Igor was working on before he left. Additional water and electricity lines were routed from the workshop and the beekeeping facility to the new campus toilets, the new classroom, and the composting plant.

While not everything was completed this week, the work is far from over. Laying down more lines will continue next week. Every meter of piping and every new cable represents another step toward a future where the entire campus can operate as an interconnected and self-sufficient hub for education, work, and community development.