Matluba from Bangladesh

Our deadline was January 15, 2015 to provide the children with a new school ground and also an outdoor classroom. We were pretty much on time and so far it has taken a good shape. The children have already started using the school ground. We will assess the risks and there will be some additions too later on based on how it is being used now. Here are some pictures of how it looks like now. Outdoor Classroom Growing Area Wet Learning Area Learning through Play Natural Learning Area Shelter Learning with Loose parts Pathway/ Stepping Stones Flat Area/Playground Marking We did not yet work on it. As the soil is compact and children generally use some stick to mark the playground for certain play  (for example 'chi-kut') . We will observe a few days and then decide on the probable location for a finished playground marking. I am in a fix wheth...

We are almost at the last phase of our construction. Masonry work is finished, bamboo work is a little bit slow and still going on. We have planted plants and the water plants are in site too. Here are some pictures taken today on Day 28. Figure 01: Outdoor Classroom  Figure 02: Lerning with loose parts Figure 03: Shelter/ Learning in groups Figure 04: Natural Learning area (We could only plant some plants but this not the planting season. They will grow during the rains) Figure 05: Garden/ Growing area Figure 06: Water learning area

The work is going on in full swing in the school ground of Tulatoli Primary School, Narsingdi, Bangladesh. Its wonderful to see that the process is already having an impact on children and adults in various ways. The children who visit the site in different times are engaged with different activities using different loose parts (outcome of construction work, construction materials). They are already using the small hills (we are planning to plant grass to make it grassy hills in the adventure play area). They climb up and down the hills, used a small piece of wood to make bridge. They are making fountains using water and sand. They are also helping in the construction work in many ways- bringing bricks to the place of construction, working to give a shape to the grassy hill and helping in local plants search etc. Here are some photos...  House/Shelter/Learning in Groups Outdoor Classroom/ Gathering area Mound/ Grassy Hills Children making fountains

After a basic layout of the school ground we have started work on site. As a result many decisions are taken on site, even in many cases working drawings are being prepared on site and given to the masons. Many decisions are being taken on site, sketches are being made instantly through discussion. Entry gate (bamboo construction) The small hills with slipper the 'macha' or platform for slipper? small house/ learning in groups slipper in adventure play area Followings are few working drawings prepared by Fuad and me for masons

I must say I am more confident about the work progress after four days. 6-7 persons (2 masons and the rest are day labours/ helpers) are working on the site everyday. So we are in good progress with the wet construction. We are hopeful about starting the dry construction pretty soon. Fuad has done a material survey in the nearby area to see what we can get and at how much of cost. I have contacted at several places for tire and bamboo. The materials will arrive at the site tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. The dry construction will begin hopefully at the end of this week. The progress of work at the end of 4th day is- Fig 01: Preparation taken for 1sft cc pavement Fig 02: Concrete works of small houses (learning in groups), piling of CC pillar done Fig 03: Now the contour has come to a good shape Fig 04: Brick soling done, 10" brick footing started