Six schools have been built, or are currently under construction, to date, with funds raised through a combination of donations from guests at Nkwichi Lodge, schools in London, Church groups across the UK and private donations.
Each of the six villages agreed to make their own bricks, transport sand and water. MWL agreed to provide the other materials such as cement, roofing irons, rafters and when necessary skilled labour, such as brick layers or carpenters.
After each school had been constructed, the Provincial Government of Niassa, sent two or three teachers. Below is a summary of current progress on each of these schools:
Mbueca: The main building has been completed, and the school is already operational and being used by 5 classes of children, with two teachers. In 2007, wooden door and window shutters were completed and now all that remains is to paint the inside walls and provide furniture.
Mala: This school is also near to completion and is already in use. The concrete floor was completed in 2007 and the next steps are to plaster and paint the inside walls, build doors and window shutters and then provide furniture. There are also two teachers house, one of which is completed, while the other still requires some work including plastering the walls and laying a concrete floor.
Mataka: In 2007 some work was carried out on the roof of this school to ensure it was water-tight, ready for the rainy season. The main structure is now fully completed and the building is in use. It is now ready for doors, window shutters, and furniture - funds are currently being raised for this.
Chigoma: Chigoma already had a good school building, but the village committee decided that they needed an additional classroom due to the number of pupils. The foundations have been completed for this classroom and work will commence on the main construction in 2008 - the community are currently firing the bricks.
Uchessi: The final work on the main structure - laying a concrete floor - is currently being completed on this school. It will then be at the same stage as Mataka and ready for painting, doors, window shutters and furniture.
Mandambuzi: This is the biggest of the schools that Manda Wilderness is helping the community to build, with three classrooms. The work is currently under way plastering the walls, then a concrete floor will need to be laid The Governor of Niassa has also supported this school project, by donating the roofing irons.
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