Nasavahn (Phase 1)
Completed: April 2017
Completed: April 2017
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Background
Located approximately 40km north of Luang Prabang is the village of Ban Nasavahn. The community is mixed ethnicity, and whilst not a large village, it serves as an education hub for 8 surrounding communities. The number of communities the school serves is likely to increase on completion of the dorm. Accessibility is via a main road from Luang Prabang before a left hand turn takes you to a dirt track. It is approximately 1 hour of travel time via this dirt road that is in very poor condition in places. |
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Current Conditions
Currently students attending the school have 2 options. One- they commute anywhere between 4-15km a day. Two- they build a makeshift hut at their own expense. There are currently around 200 students attending the school, the majority commuting.
Commuting is far from ideal, with the terrain and poor road surface making the journey arduous and time-consuming. The knock on effect being that students arrive to classes in a less than suitable condition to learn.
The alternative of building a hut is also problematic. These huts come out of the students and their families’ own money and as a result they constitute the absolute minimum. Furthermore, they are far from secure, with only a small padlock preventing anyone accessing their possessions. The huts are also open to the elements, with many consisting of a thatched roof and wall panelling made from bamboo. One recent storm destroyed one of the huts; thankfully all the students had sought shelter in the school building itself.
Sanitation is non-existent within the immediate area surrounding the huts. Washing takes place in a nearby creek, around 100 metres from the shacks. Toilet facilities consist of the communal units around the school area, around 200 metres from the shacks. With over 70 people residing in the shacks they are essentially sharing a creek and only 4 toilet units.
Photos below depict the shack style rooms.
Currently students attending the school have 2 options. One- they commute anywhere between 4-15km a day. Two- they build a makeshift hut at their own expense. There are currently around 200 students attending the school, the majority commuting.
Commuting is far from ideal, with the terrain and poor road surface making the journey arduous and time-consuming. The knock on effect being that students arrive to classes in a less than suitable condition to learn.
The alternative of building a hut is also problematic. These huts come out of the students and their families’ own money and as a result they constitute the absolute minimum. Furthermore, they are far from secure, with only a small padlock preventing anyone accessing their possessions. The huts are also open to the elements, with many consisting of a thatched roof and wall panelling made from bamboo. One recent storm destroyed one of the huts; thankfully all the students had sought shelter in the school building itself.
Sanitation is non-existent within the immediate area surrounding the huts. Washing takes place in a nearby creek, around 100 metres from the shacks. Toilet facilities consist of the communal units around the school area, around 200 metres from the shacks. With over 70 people residing in the shacks they are essentially sharing a creek and only 4 toilet units.
Photos below depict the shack style rooms.
The Project:
To construct a new dormitory for students attending the school
To construct a new dormitory for students attending the school
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It is our intention to construct a large school dormitory to accommodate all students in need of accommodation. The dorm will consist of two main buildings, one male one female, a shared communal kitchen and two sanitation blocks (one for each building).
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The male dorm, the female dorm will be the same
As always, our aim is to not just supply ample accommodation for the situation now. Currently, accommodation is needed for 200 students, however, we will be discussing potential growth in the student population, including from other villages the school might serve, so we can build something capable of accommodating students for many years to come.
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Front Elevation
It is our intention to use village contributions to provide offset to the total cost of the project. We will be visiting all the villages that currently send students to the school, and those that intend to, with the ambition of gaining support in the form of materials and labour. This support will be relative to the number of students the village sends to the school against the actual wealth of the community in question.
The dormitory accommodation will be free for students attending the school. VTL, nor any village, will profit from students residing at the dorm.
The dormitory accommodation will be free for students attending the school. VTL, nor any village, will profit from students residing at the dorm.
Birdseye View
Work progressing on the dormitory construction, clearing land and commencing foundation construction.
A volunteer group from Baraka and The Different Travel Company working on the construction of the foundations. After they left, all 60 foundation column bases were in place and all 60 metal columns frames had been erected.
Work was completed in April 2017.
Photos below depict images of the work as it progressed and completed. Also photos from the handover ceremony where we officially handed the dormitory project to the village.
Photos below depict images of the work as it progressed and completed. Also photos from the handover ceremony where we officially handed the dormitory project to the village.
