The Learning Center For Children
Rural Chittoor district in India, where this project was implemented, does not have sufficient capacity to support the learning needs of the local elementary school population. One of the primary challenges is that children do not have space to learn and study after school. The idea for the learning center came from the residents of Diguvapalem and its surrounding areas. The goal was to build the center using locally sourced material that was environmentally friendly. It would also be used to educate the local children in environmental sustainability. The Watersphere initiative helped fund the project and provide other resource support. Money was raised for this project, which funded materials for the construction as well as the salary for one teacher. Volunteers were also mobilized to help in painting the center. The learning center was built in 2019 and currently supports the after school needs of the children in the local area.
A site that was previously used as a shed for goats was identified as the location for the learning center. The existing structure had to be leveled so a new building could be constructed. The goal was to build it using locally available natural materials.
The building begins to take shape: the bricks were made using locally sourced red soil.
Eucalyptus was used to make the basic frame of the roof. The floor was made using a fermented mixture of jaggery (a brown sugar made from tree sap) and jamun (a native Indian blackberry variety).
Me as a 9th grader helping with whitewashing the walls. Chuna (a limestone based material) was used to whitewash the interior walls.
Bamboo was added to reinforce the roof structure.
Lemongrass was added to thatch the roof.
After the construction was complete, we requested donations for books and other learning materials.