Project Description
Kindergarten Classroom – Sulangan Elementary School
This is a project we started when we flew to the island in November 2014. We met with the Principal of the Elementary School and discussed what was most needed, and the Kindergarten Classroom was one of the most important areas that needed rebuilding.
After seeing the building and understanding that the Kindergarten children were currently sharing a room with other pupils, making it extremely difficult to sit and also learn, we decided to go ahead with the project.
Whilst we were there with the funds we had already raised from so many generous donors, we were able to find a contractor and buy the first lot of building materials. We were also able to commence the demolition of the old building and begin to make way for the new!
The best thing about this project was not just that it was helping so many members of the community directly, but the labour and the building materials were all sourced locally, which means all donations were not only going to rebuilding this key community area, but donations were going directly to these people who survived Typhoon Yolanda and it was helping to rebuild their lives too!
At the end of November 2014, we left the island with the project half finished and promised to return to the island to finish the project once we had raised more funds.
Between November 2014 and November 2015 we raised money through the Sheffield Half Marathon in April 2015, the Manchester Marathon, also in April 2015 and also received a donation from an Australian surf board company called TreeHouse Landscapes and Handshapes.
In November 2015, we returned to the island to finish what we had started. In just a few short weeks we were able to finish the building, including putting on a new roof, new windows and doors.
On the 19 December 2015, just in time for Christmas, we finished our project and fulfilled our promise to the people of Sulangan. The school was finished.
We cannot thank everyone enough for helping with this project. From everyone who donated to the workers and the people of Sulangan, everyone played an important part in this project and helped us to finish it.
For the children who survived typhoon yolanda this is for you.
Here is our journey in pictures
November 2014…
Our founder meets the Principal of Sulangan Elementary School and pledges to rebuild their Kindergarten Classroom! Demolition of the old classroom begins, in order to make way for the new…
The first batch of building materials arrive so we can get our project off the ground…
The rebuild commences…
At the end of November 2014, we left the island to return to the UK. We promised the Principal we would return and finish what we started once we had raised the funds.
We left the Philippines and raised our banner to show that this was a project and a promise we would fulfill…
On November 19 2015, we returned to Sulangan in the Philippines to continue our project… and we hit the ground running…
As soon as we arrive we finish rebuilding the walls and start cementing the exterior. Once this was done we then made a start on the roof…
…we then start to cement the interior of the building and the roof starts to take shape…
…once the walls are cemented we then begin to paint the exterior and the interior. At this point a few members of the community came to get involved and helped us to paint the school.
We are very grateful to them for helping with this project…
New windows are put in and a new door is made by a local carpenter. One of the key purposes of this school was to give back to the community as much as possible. The workers are all local and all the materials were sourced in the main town and in the village of Sulangan itself. Most of the locals who played an active role in the construction of the school had children or relatives who attend the school as pupils…
A local artist painted our logo on the building and the finishing touches were added..
On the 19 December 2015 our first project was finally completed. After a year of fundraising, hard work and complete dedication we rebuilt a school that was devastated by one of the worst typhoons ever recorded in history.
We are overwhelmed by the continued support and we are beyond grateful to everyone who has helped to get this project to the end.
Thank you to everyone who has donated to this project and to the Australian company – Treehouse Landscapes & Handshapes for their incredible donation.
Thank you to all the workers and the people of Sulangan who were on board with this project and helped us to reach the finish line.
Finally, to the hundreds of children who will benefit from this building everyday for many years to come, you are the reason we finished this project and you are the reason why we are determined and inspired to do more.
