The Vinyl School Project will replaced traditional sticks, mud, and thatched roof classrooms with a vinyl classrooms. The vinyl school will be structured with wood-frame covered with used vinyl billboards.
These vinyl schools will last longer than the traditional schools. Also, they will be stronger and be more conducive for learning. Finally, they will be incorporate a rainwater collection system.
The traditional schools, pictured above, require periodic and repeated maintenance to keep them in shape. The mud is washed away and blown away by the rain and wind. The weather quickens the deterioration of the sticks supporting the structure. And then, the school falls down and have to be rebuilt.
The traditional classroom will improve the educational setting for poor rural students. Another feature of the school will be a rain-water collection system. Young Congolese girls are primarily responsible for fetching water for their families. Many times, they skip school to carry water.
The Vinyl Classroom Project will provide jobs for the Congolese men. The project will purchase milled lumber from local saw mill. A saw mill was purchased as part of the overall project. Lumber is needed to accomodate the engineered classroom. Traditional sticks and mud construction will be replaced.
A used vinyl billboard weighs about 50 pounds. They can be folded compacted for shipping to Congo. By reusing the vinyl billboards, we keep them out of our landfills.
One day soon, you will be able look on Google Earth and see rural Congolese schools made out of used vinyl billboards.
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