Location	Kaoma, Western Province, Zambia
Project start	November 2011
Project finish
Partners	Alan Kerins Projects
Trainees	6
Beneficiaries	425 (direct) 2,870 (indirect)
Key Details	New multipurpose training centre for the Kaoma Community
Project Funding	Fully funded by Alan Kerins Projects

Full Project details

Working for our partner at Alan Kerins Projects, we are constructing a new training centre in the urban community of Kaoma. The training centre is the third project we have worked on together in the Kaoma Community. Previous projects included 5 classrooms for the heavily oversubscribed community school in 2010 and 2011.

Following initial site work in November 2011 and with help from Kaoma Community School trainees, the buildings foundations were completed. After a break for the rainy season, work on the building recommenced in May 2012.

The centre takes a slightly different design to our usual hexagonal shape. The building will include male and female dormitory areas, a kitchen as well as the the main multipurpose 'classroom' that will act as the main focus for acitivity in the building. We are building the facility using our trademark sustainable building techniques - including hydraform bricks made from local materials and heat reflecting micro concrete roof tiles.

The Vodafone Training Centre will be used by the local community to provide further training, such as leadership skills workshops and will also be open to visiting Irish students. The local orphanage will also be a major user of the new training centre, using it as an extra space for children to learn.

Project Trainees

We are delighted to welcome six new trainees onto our Training into Work programme:

Situmbeko Kamungoma, Davidson Sichachani Sichachani, Nalikena Muleta, Emmanuel Muyabalo Namate, Given Ngenda Mushele and Lackson Phiri.

Working with a qualified builder and our training officer, trainees will learn a range of construction skills whilst helping to build the Training Centre, under the watchful eye of Albert Lungu, our Project Manager.

“The trainees have shown great commitment to work and even worked over the holidays. I am very impressed with the dedication of this group.” - Albert Lungu

The trainees will learn a range of building skills from block making to roofing over 6 months. Once complete, the trainees will undertake an official trades test by Zambia's construction governing body. It doesn't end there either - we'll be helping all our trainees to find work after their training.