Remodling Ideas

Our ambitious project begins with addressing the main problems at the Las Canas school. While the physical building is standing and in stable though broken down structural condition, vast improvements must be made to turn it into an acceptable school space. There are three major problems that must be considered first, followed by an extensive list of smaller improvements and renovations. These chief concerns include electricity, functional bathrooms and a usable library.

Currently the school at Las Canas, located in the tropical and consistently sweltering climate of the Dominican Republic, lacks any ventilation or air conditioning whatsoever. Clearly, trying to learn in such an environment is difficult, if not impossible. For this reason, along with the lack of lighting, bringing a working electrical system to the school at Las Canas may be defined as the primary concern of our project. Ceiling fans, light fixtures and better ventilation will create a more comfortable and functional learning environment. Electricity can be brought efficiently and cheaply to the school with the use of an inverter run by batteries. An equipment cage around the inverter will protect it from vandalism and tampering.

The second significant improvement that is absolutely necessary is renovated bathrooms. At this time, a concrete slab with a square hole in the middle serves as the school’s only bathroom. There is no septic system, no running water, and the “bathrooms” now act as a breading ground for bacteria and disease. A new water pump and well will help to fulfill this need.

Finally, an operational library with updated resources and wooden bookshelves will serve as a center for knowledge and a source of pride for the school. The existing library is merely an unused classroom with dirty, torn books lying in huge stacks on top of rusty chairs. The books have clearly never been used, and spiders and cobwebs are plentiful throughout the room. Constructing shelves and purchasing or receiving donated books will transform the now inadequate library into a respectable learning area.

A host of other problems and renovation ideas were also defined at the school. These include a renovated regulation basketball court, new gardens and landscaping, new blackboards, doors, school supplies, gates, and maps. Additionally, structural improvements like a new roof, painted and plastered walls, and repairs to the floor are essential. Aesthetic improvements including wall-sized murals will improve the appearance of the school. Currently, the school is overrun with chickens that have made their home on the school grounds. Removing the animals will create a safer and cleaner environment, and their former feeding grounds can be transformed into recreational areas and outdoor classrooms.