Thursday, July 24, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Grassland School updates:
Fencing wall construction + picnic (2007 June)
Grassland School updates
(following phone call with Sherap early July 2008)
Last batch of funding
Sherap spent the last batch of funding on fencing wall (construction is completed). The total cost was RMB 76,000, with RMB15,000 payment outstanding. (Not paid to the builder yet as retention)
2nd school building construction
Now he is preparing for the building of the 2nd school building. The foundation has been laid. Parts of the building materials are ready. These are such as certain portion of timber. This 2nd school building is slightly larger than 1st building. (Need further clarification from Sherap)
Summary of outstanding Building materials for the 2nd building.
- Self-made sundried hollow brick.
- Cement (for the brick bonding)
- Roofing material (roof tiles, I also ask him to check insulation cost)
- Apparently labor cost has risen.
- Also certain building material cannot be found from nearby town (Hezuo合作, Lingxia临夏) but need to buy from Lanzhou兰州.
Building Cost - Sherap couldn't give me any rough figure of how much $$ he will need to complete the building of this 2nd building. (Need further info from Sherap)
Fresh water supply
A spring on the upper slope of the village is used as the new water supply. Government has provided pipe to each household awhile ago. (end of 2007) Villagers do the pipe work (dig into the soil to install the pipe work) themselves to connect to the spring (water source). This water supply works most of the time apart from winter time where the pipe froze. In these situations, the villagers collect water from the old spring, which we saw in out last visit.
Last batch of funding
Sherap spent the last batch of funding on fencing wall (construction is completed). The total cost was RMB 76,000, with RMB15,000 payment outstanding. (Not paid to the builder yet as retention)
2nd school building construction
Now he is preparing for the building of the 2nd school building. The foundation has been laid. Parts of the building materials are ready. These are such as certain portion of timber. This 2nd school building is slightly larger than 1st building. (Need further clarification from Sherap)
Summary of outstanding Building materials for the 2nd building.
- Self-made sundried hollow brick.
- Cement (for the brick bonding)
- Roofing material (roof tiles, I also ask him to check insulation cost)
- Apparently labor cost has risen.
- Also certain building material cannot be found from nearby town (Hezuo合作, Lingxia临夏) but need to buy from Lanzhou兰州.
Building Cost - Sherap couldn't give me any rough figure of how much $$ he will need to complete the building of this 2nd building. (Need further info from Sherap)
Fresh water supply
A spring on the upper slope of the village is used as the new water supply. Government has provided pipe to each household awhile ago. (end of 2007) Villagers do the pipe work (dig into the soil to install the pipe work) themselves to connect to the spring (water source). This water supply works most of the time apart from winter time where the pipe froze. In these situations, the villagers collect water from the old spring, which we saw in out last visit.
foundation work, 1st school building (2006 summer)
1st visit (2006 Spring)
School construction (2006 Summer)
1st school building completed (2006 Autumn)
School Opening (2006 Autumn)
School visit (2007 April)
School visit (2007 April)
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Cancellation of the up-coming trip
Due to the recentsituation in Tibetan area, the team has decided cancelling the trip to grassland school via Xiahe which was originally scheduled to take place this Saturday.
It’s therefore the book collection will continue slowly. A trip maybe rescheduled a few weeks later depending on the situation. Please be reminded that it maybe also not the best time to post books to Sherap at this very moment.
Best regards,
Maggie
It’s therefore the book collection will continue slowly. A trip maybe rescheduled a few weeks later depending on the situation. Please be reminded that it maybe also not the best time to post books to Sherap at this very moment.
Best regards,
Maggie
Monday, March 03, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Tibetan language Children books
朋友介绍下刚找到国外一个研究生办的组织
他们找经费在国内(青海)出版一些藏文的儿童书
Pictures from TALI at other tibetan school in China
Tibetan Art and Literature Initiative (TALI)
他们找经费在国内(青海)出版一些藏文的儿童书
由藏族的艺术家做设计插画
派发到国内藏区的小学
已经联系上他们
需然上一次出版的两本已经没存货
想订想买也买不到
但是他们说年中再出的几本新的故事书
可以把"草原学校"也列在派发的名单上
Through a friend, I was introduced to:
TALI: Tibetan Art and Literature Initiative
TALI publishes Tibetan language children books inside China (Qinghai) and then distribute the books freely to Tibetan primary school in Tibetan area. Eventhough the last 2 children books they published last year are all out of stock, they are very please to include the grassland school into the distribution list when they have a few more books which are scheduled to be published later this year.
What a good news!
In the meanwhile, we will try to collect children books (story books/ picture books) from anyone (English/ Chi) and bring some to the school during Easter.
Pictures from TALI at other tibetan school in China
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Simple children books! learn Eng, pic books for word...
Someone who have experince doing such project has given the following comments:
"Many thanks for your message. I am glad you are undertaking this important task. My congratulations to you and all friends involved in helping this school...
...Finally, regarding sending books from HK, I think they may want to have certain simple books to learn English, for example, like picture books with words. Maybe you can find bilingual Chinese-English ones. Dictionaries may be useful as well. Science or geography picture books could be also useful. But it is hard to say without knowing exactly the curriculum they follow. I usually send the books in English from here and they open them, take a look, close the boxes and let them arrive to their destination. I have not had trouble with this yet. I did not write any letter either. As long as the books are for children it should be OK."
Sunday, February 24, 2008
A call for Book donation
Happy belated Losar (tibetan word of Tibetan new year)
also Happy belated CNY of rat! and Happy 2008!
It's been a while for this site to be updated.
Finally I have almost completed my research study at uni. Will surely update the site very soon.
In the meanwhile, please find the following the latest happening!
6 people from HK will be visiting the grassland school Easter next month. And we would like to take this opportunity to call for book donation. Adding more personal touch to what you can participate. Demo Shi! Tashi Delek!
also Happy belated CNY of rat! and Happy 2008!
It's been a while for this site to be updated.
Finally I have almost completed my research study at uni. Will surely update the site very soon.
In the meanwhile, please find the following the latest happening!
6 people from HK will be visiting the grassland school Easter next month. And we would like to take this opportunity to call for book donation. Adding more personal touch to what you can participate. Demo Shi! Tashi Delek!
Monday, August 13, 2007
Jules and Anja's 2nd visit
Jules and Anja visited Sherap and the grassland school back in June. Here are the photos provided by them. Jules and Anja live in Holland.
[Anja teaching English alphabet]
[the younger class studying hard]
[Jules working on the fencing wall construction]
[Sherap]
[group photo]
Saturday, August 04, 2007
school construction update
After a phone call with Sherap [4 August 07], please find the following summary:
Construction
1. Fencing construction is almost complete;
2. A new building for teacher's accomodation shall commence soon. (in cost quotation stage).
Village level
1. The local government has just connected each house with running water. (自来水) Therefore only in winter (frozen temp), the villagers will need to fetch water from the spring.
Future plan
1. Visitor block and more classroom block shall be built next year;
2. A sustainable toilet block shall be built next year;
3. Sherap will collect the building parts of an old house of his friends which are planning to be demolished soon. This aims to reuse the building material for the future school construction, also act as a historical record of past materials and building elements;
4. The need for a pipe connect to the spring no long required, however the potential need of a water storage for the spring shall be reassessed in the next visit.
5. sherap agree the idea of using traditional building methods to build the next school block, the idead to conserve Tibetan traditional architectural knowledge.
Visitors
1. Three friends of Sherap, who are from Lanzhou Polytechnic University, are visiting the school now, they have been teaching the school children singing and dancing.
report by maggie
Construction
1. Fencing construction is almost complete;
2. A new building for teacher's accomodation shall commence soon. (in cost quotation stage).
Village level
1. The local government has just connected each house with running water. (自来水) Therefore only in winter (frozen temp), the villagers will need to fetch water from the spring.
Future plan
1. Visitor block and more classroom block shall be built next year;
2. A sustainable toilet block shall be built next year;
3. Sherap will collect the building parts of an old house of his friends which are planning to be demolished soon. This aims to reuse the building material for the future school construction, also act as a historical record of past materials and building elements;
4. The need for a pipe connect to the spring no long required, however the potential need of a water storage for the spring shall be reassessed in the next visit.
5. sherap agree the idea of using traditional building methods to build the next school block, the idead to conserve Tibetan traditional architectural knowledge.
Visitors
1. Three friends of Sherap, who are from Lanzhou Polytechnic University, are visiting the school now, they have been teaching the school children singing and dancing.
report by maggie
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Fencing wall contsruction progress
Below are the photos taken by Sherap at the end of May and early June. They illustrate the progress of the fencing wall construction which defines the school premises.
Following a phone conversation with Sherap last week, it was told the contsruction is almost completed.
More recent photos will be uploaded upon receiving them through e-mail from Sherap.
So please stay tune!
Following a phone conversation with Sherap last week, it was told the contsruction is almost completed.
More recent photos will be uploaded upon receiving them through e-mail from Sherap.
So please stay tune!
Monday, May 28, 2007
The dutch team is visiting grassland school
The dutch team [Jules and Anja] is on their way to visit Sherap now. They will see the progress of the school and the fencing construction. Their trip finish on June 25.
Please stay tune for update later.
[photo from their visit May 2006]
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
School update
[Old photo on the site work for the school building
construction in 2006]
School update May
1. Site work on leveling the ground for the low fencing area has all been completed;
(but some of the sub soil is still frozen.. wow!!! )
2. There is rain water drainage problem on the newly leveled ground;
3. Next week when sherap goes back, they will start the fencing wall construction;
(He said steel reinforcement and concrete will be used... !!!)
4. This summer's construction plan is just to accomplish this fencing wall.
Sherap said there is enough finance for this summer's construction work but he hasn't have time to sort out the cash balance. But for sure there is lack of financial support for any next stage construction. (for the next year)
Sherap said that the children are all doing well, enjoying their class and they are playing Football (soccer) alot these days. The class is going as normal (Mon- Fri, 8 to 5) with two teachers. I asked him whether the children needs anything for now, he said they seems alright but this time going back, he may shop for some bandage and other medicine for daily use...
There are two Dutch friend of mine gonna visit Sherap end of this month, and they will visit the school. They will stop by HK on the way in and out, so there is a window opportunity for the HK team to pass anything to sherap.
p.s: Labrang monastery has forbidden all official monks to visit internet cafe at xiahe.. that's the reason why Sherap hasn't got any chance to reply any e-mail. He said when he pass by another town (Hezuo), he will go online there.
Friday, May 04, 2007
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