Moving to the New House!
It has taken us considerable time and energy but we did it: we successfully moved!
This story started about a six months ago, when one of our previous landlords decided to raise the rent for our Center of Life to unaffordable amounts. With the help of one of our volunteers, Denis, we searched and searched for the perfect place for our children. A merely fifty visits later (!), we found that elusive pearl of a house in the Toul Tum Poung neighborhood, the famous “Russian Market‘” neighborhood.
The New House
This new house is just perfect for our children: it has just been renovated and has modern accommodation and sanitation; it has a large courtyard overshadowed by big, fruit trees; it is located in a very quiet and friendly neighborhood in which the security of our children will not be such an issue; it is also closer to our children’s school.
Our only concern at the time was that the house was a bit small to house all our extracurricular activities, our offices and sufficiently separate accommodation for our boys. After much brainstorming and attempts to find a solution, this concern vanished when we very fortunately found a second place to rent just opposite our new main house!
The roof for the sport
One and a half month later, our three previous locations are finally moved to the two new ones. On one side of the street, we have the kitchen and commons, the girls’ rooms, classrooms and playing ground. The front yard has been enhanced by paving a part of it to make three open air classrooms, thanks to a fantastic fundraising event organized by our friends at the College du Leman in Switzerland.
Of course we kept all the trees, they provided us with jackfruit and mangoes during the spring and summer and we’re hoping to be able to start a kitchen garden on one side.
Almost finished... !
On the other side of the street, we have a computer room, the boy’s rooms, our infirmary and offices, and we’re thinking of reopening our Community Library!
Even though they have good memories from the old house, the children were delighted to move and love the new place. They were so happy that they became very involved in the moving process.