Tichakunda Creche has many challenges... which are outlined in the area below.

Funding for permanent Structures (Classrooms)

• There are many challenges being faced by Tichakunda preschool. There is an urgent need to build permanent structures for the children, currently most classes are being held outside as the shacks cannot accommodate 600 children. In addition when it rains the children have to go home and most learn under the mercy of the scorching sun. The classrooms that are there are wooden shacks that have been donated by the Dominican sisters. However as can be seen in these pictures, these shacks are not adequate as some have holes in the roof and there is no flooring, only dust and stones covered by plastic sheeting for some semblance of comfort.
  

A Borehole for Water

• There is no running water at Tichakunda pre-school. There is only a deep unprotected well that has water that caters for the needs of the entire school, cooking, cleaning and watering the garden. Not only is it laborious and time consuming to draw water from the well but the unprotected well is dangerous. If any of the children were to wonder off and fall in there is little chance of survival. The teachers have to be vigilant in keeping watch as the well is only a few metres from the main play area. The schools head has said that a borehole would serve their needs adequately and quotations obtained show that the cost is approx US$3000. A borehole would also enable the school to expand their vegetable garden which currently provides relish for the volunteer teachers lunch. It may then be large enough to feed the children as well or provide some much needed income through vegetable sales.

Sanitization (Toilets)

• Shown above are the school toilets that serve all the 700 pupils and the teachers. There are three toilets, boys, girls and one for staff. These are pit latrines and as one approaches them a strong smell emanates from them. They are a few metres from the kitchen and the flies that buzz around are a health hazard. There is also no water near the toilets for basic hygiene such as washing of hands etc.

Feeding the Children

• One meal of a nutritious porridge made from protein rich beans and maize meal is served when available from a UN food programme. However the demand for such food aid is high and not always consistent. The children need a regular nutritious meal to tide them through the day. The one meal of porridge a day is eagerly anticipated and the children can be heard scraping their plates as servings are small. As they sit in the dust hungrily waiting for the plates to be brought to them, they receive the food and eat so eagerly one wonders what happens on a day when this food is not available. The few donations that have trickled in have supplemented this food by purchasing maize meal from the National Grain Marketing board at a subsidized price. The general shortages prevailing in the country have worsened the situation.