28 November 2007

Roof complete

On Monday, 26 November, the roof was poured without major incidents. The day started customarily late, and after less than five minutes the concrete mixer fell of its stand – concrete mixers are quite heavy, not least when they are full of concrete. It was quite a miracle that nobody got hurt. It was soon restored to a better position and restarted. After about twenty minutes the bearings holding the ‘tub’ gave out and only after an hour of welding did the pouring get properly under way.

At about 8:00 pm the roof was complete, the Sardar and his women on their way back to Dinajpur and our masons ready to use the leftover concrete for making concrete slabs. Concrete slabs are always handy to have when there is a hole to cover.

19 November 2007

The next big test

As school children all over Bangladesh prepare to show what they have learned this year in their final exams we all have the opportunity to show that since January 2007 Bangladesh is no longer the most corrupt country in the world. As much needed aid pours in from rich friends all over the world, let’s make sure the money doesn’t again end up in marbled apartment buildings in the posh parts of Dhaka; let’s make history by ensuring that every Yen, Riyal, Euro and Dollar that is given to Bangladesh is converted into water, food and rehabilitation for those most effected by SIDR.

Pray for the victims of SIDR and for those involved in relief work.

17 November 2007

Cyclone SIDR

Super cyclone SIDR made landfall in Bangladesh Thursday night leaving a deadly trail as it worked its way north east towards the Himalayas. With almost a thousand casualties counted so by Saturday morning this has been a tragedy for many in Bangladesh.

When another cyclone hit Bangladesh in 1991 the death toll stood at about 140.000. SIDR is reported to have been at least as fierce as the cyclone in 1991. In the midst of tragedy we therefore also rejoice that Bangladesh this time was much better prepared and able to reduce the impact. Cyclones will pass over Bangladesh in the future again; Bangladesh is strong and prepared. I often get asked this question by visitors ‘Is the development work making any difference in Bangladesh?’ The preparedness for this storm, and the relatively low impact of SIDR, is a sign that yes in Bangladesh it is not just the same old story.

01 November 2007

First wall

Today another milestone in the building was reached when the first bit of wall was built.

LAMB English Medium School - Bangladesh