Lest our faithful blog readers develop a sense that Group 1 Rotarians and friends aren’t sweating enough on this trip, this entry is all about the sweat that leads to the equity. 

Bakong Technical College

This year’s project sees the return of the  Sweat Equity team  to the Bakong Technical  College (previously visited in 2009). It is clear that much work has progressed, and since our last visit two years ago the site is now (comparatively) well-developed.

The ‘Sweat’

From the get-go, we were hard at work doing whatever was asked of us to move the project along.  What have we been up to?

• Distributing construction materials to improve pathways and to advance the new administration, library and IT buildings;
• Carrying gravel for concrete, sod to build-up roads connecting the buildings and sand for the foundation of paved walkways;
• Building concrete post forms, laying foundation stones and getting ready for cement to be poured on floors and supporting posts;
•  But… before cement posts can be poured,  first rebar needed to be straightened and we we’ve done days of it!

 

And while the sweat portion of the Sweat Equitydoes help advance the project, there isn’t a person here on our team who hasn’t felt the patience and gentle instruction of the local work force (I for one am not too proud to say that straightening rebar by hand is harder than it looks! ).

Our primary role here on site is to throw a little muscle behind our dollars, show committment to the project and deepen relationships within the community – to ensure that our gifts of dollars and sweat build equity in the project.  It is easy to see that our efforts on the job site, is an important gateway to the success.

Working alongside local workers, understanding their issues and challenges, celebrating successes and seeing the construction project of the Bakong Technical College continue to come to life – even in the last 10 days of our sweating – is remarkably satisfying work.

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