Summary
Our final infrastructure project for the Uphill site is landscaping: Protecting the ground from water erosion and the from the many feet that move around the school every day. Can you help us to achieve this?
Paving the Way
Phase 1 of the big landscaping project at Uphill Junior School is underway!
In Scotland we might call the body of water that forms at the front of the school each time it rains the “Uphill Lochan’ (a small lake or pond). Not an ideal entrance feature, and one that needs to be tackled as a matter of urgency.
Our landscaping consultant, Elisha, and trust chairman, Max, have discussed at length what will be needed to resolve the problem. The final solution? A combination of amended ground levels to control the direction of water run off, and hard landscaping to prevent erosion. Time to get started!
First job – creating the new levels.
The choice of material for the hard landscaping was easy. We have been using locally sourced flat stones around the school site for a while now, having seen them used for paths, storm drains and retaining walls throughout western Uganda. They are easily bedded onto compacted level ground and, once stabilised with cement, form a kind of Ugandan ‘crazy paving’.
School director Elius tells us that the stones (local name, Ebikenka) are quarried in Harugongo, a rural area some 17kms north-east of Fort Portal city. They are hard and strong, so are good for landscaping projects, but are also crushed to form one of the ingredients of locally-made cement. Every day’s a school day!
Once the paving has been completed in the front compound, the remaining areas will be cleared of building debris to create a grassy area for play, and for occasional parking.
Phase 2 will transform the eroded slope to the lower area of the school with wide sloping steps, along with deep drainage channels to carry the rain water away to soak-a-way pits. Further paved paths and steps will allow the children to access the latrines safely during the rainy season.
The plans are in place, but we need to raise more money to be able to start this additional work.
Are you able to help?
Do you have any gardening, building and landscaping contacts who might like to make a donation to help us complete the project?
Thank you.
Tags: infrastructure, landscaping, preventing soil erosion, protecting the landscape, Uphill Junior School, water erosion
