After we had refreshed the water point nearby our Nyabiheke park, it was time to get back to work on the park. The next step was to put up a structure that could create a little shade and make the spot a nice place to come, sit and take a moment.
A pergola was perfect. But it was a community effort. Our staff engineer got involved to sketch a design and recruit a team of camp residents to help.
First, we needed some substantial posts and some deep holes to sink them into. While a team dug out holes with machetes another prepared the posts and treated them to protect against rot and termites. Once we planted the posts and secured them with concrete, we had to give them a moment to dry and set.
We finished things off with beams running both directions across the pergola supports.
“This will be a special place,” said Jacques, our Partnerships Officer. “Once the plants grow up and across the pergola and people have a place to sit, this will be really special.”
Speaking of places to sit, we ordered more wood and metal benches from the camp carpenter to place under the pergola. With those in place, the park will be the best spot in the camp for a little shade and to take a moment to pause and reflect. Especially once things started going green…
