The Commons is a large structure designed to accomodate the kitchen, dining and administrative functions of the Joseph Waweru Home School when completed to the capacity of 32 boys and 8 parents. This building will also act as a community learning center/library for the village of Mangu. It will be built in stages. Last year the underground foundation work was completed. This year the above ground foundation work was completed to the rough slab.
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| The first step of a Kenyan foundation was laid last year, the underground work. Now the above ground work begins. The areas between the below ground foundation walls is scraped of its top soil and leveled. Rough stone pieces called "hard core" are lined up inside the foundation. With sledge hammers and lots of rhythm the hard core is crushed into 1"-2" pieces and in the process is firmly embedded into the soil. | The Commons will have a large open expanse therefore the roof trusses will be steel beams. These beams will rest on a series of pillars. While the hard core was being laid the foundations for the pillars were also constructed. |
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| The murram dug from the cistern hole was piled into a spreading mound near the Commons foundation. Using wheelbarrows and shovels the murram mountain was slowly moved. | It was laid on top of the crushed hardcore and pounded with a steel disk until firmly embedded in the hard core and smoothed to the firmness of a well used driveway. This created a firm base for the cement slab. This foundation will be around a very long time. |
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| With a very firm base, plastic is spread over the entire foundation, forms put in place around the sides and wire mesh spread to bind the concrete. Each sheet of wire mesh is connected to the next at several points with with a small twist of wire. Meanwhile the boys are working on the raised beds for the kitchen garden. The Joseph Waweru Home School is a very busy place. Many residents wander by to watch the progress. | After two days of waiting for the cement mixer to arrive, the men became restless. They repeated often, "We can do this ourselves." So the contractor finally relented and the men set to work. The crushed stone was piled in a long plateau with a mound of sand beside. The bags of cement piled on top of the plateau of crushed stone. The water buckets stood ready, the mixing area prepared and the wheelbarrow relay in line. It wasn't long before the work began. Working at a fast pace to pour the entire slab in one day, men mixed the cement heavy with crushed stone with shovels, carried water in buckets and wheeled cement to the pour. The cement is smoothed with a 2X4 and pounded with a steel disk. By the end of the day, the men stand proudly next to a perfect slab - a good day's work done. |
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