Building well underway, and children starting to flock around during the break times, desperate to be in a photograph or to touch a hand of one of the "blessed" people who are here to help them.
 They are very affectionate and friendly, wanting to say hello and high five you, or wear your hard hat.

 A group of 7 year olds who had been rehearsing their songs and dances.  The dancers were out of school uniform.  They animate their faces as well as bodies, often into animal like tribal poses to either woo a loved one or warn off a predator.
 The little 6-7 year olds were singing before we could go around and talk to them and ask simple questions as they are learning English at this stage. 

 One of our talented dancers who became a different child when in character as a tribal dancer.

 They loved posing for the cameras and they were so receptive to the 100s of volunteers who were taken around the classrooms for tours to see first-hand what goes on in their classrooms.  One teacher had been there for 28 years, since the school had opened, and she was so thankful and praising of us because she was going to be having one of the new bigger classroom facilities, and she was clearly excited about this.

 These 6 year olds learn simple numeracy and literacy in English through computing programmes.  The programmes make the learning interactive and fun, and their grasp of English is tremendous at this stage, when they can choose colours, shapes and numbers very accurately.  Their level of concentration in this large classes of 40 plus, is incredible.  Most value their education.

 A rather blank looking playground area that a matter of days ago had all the tarmac and concrete we removed out of the area.  The walls and windows have been renovated with colourful paint and a flower design brings together a much more friendly Reception Class area.

 A much needed break for Cameron, Nancy and I before back to work.  We always had water in our hand, as teams of volunteers kept bringing around the bottles to keep us hydrated in the incredible heat.

 On one of our visits to one of the other sites, Andy spotted the MellonEducate graphic that had been painted, so what a great photo opportunity.

 At the end of another long day, we are heading back to our luxurious hotel with spa and pool, and we pass the layers upon layers of shacks.  It didn't sit well with us that we should be in such comfort and have so much food at the ready for our return, when we know only a matter of miles away, many families have very little on their plates. 

 The scenery around the shanti towns is stunning in places if you look out rather than look within, but that's not how it should be for all these people that have to stay within and only dream of what might be out there for them, if indeed they dare to dream.

 The morning view from my hotel window.  Very much a city, like so many others, set against mountains one side the beautiful ports and oceans the other.  Who would guess the nearby poverty?!

 Every morning you would see rows upon rows of men sitting along the motorway slipways in the hope that someone will stop and offer them a days labour somewhere...anywhere; a ritual they had to undertake if they were to provide for their families at all.

 Back on site to our courtyard, and starting to dig holes and more holes to sink the poles for the playground supports for swings, slides and monkey bars.

It was clever engineering, because we needed the structure to be self-supporting before concrete could go in the holes, so there were many additional wood beams set at angles to ensure physics played its important part to keep everything straight, otherwise children would be running up a slanted set of steps if we weren't careful at this stage.  I will never view a build it your own children's playground kit from such places as Argos and Homebase again, when I know how to construct my very own one from scratch. 

 We were often given cards and letters telling the volunteers "Thank You", "We Love", "Come Back", and many more heartfelt words of encouragement for the people who came to make a difference.

 The first stages of 3 ramps that Michael and I put together.  We had a larger team originally, but you can see from behind me, they soon deferred to a focused woman wielding a hammer.  My hit rate was the highest out of them all, but Michael was the fastest at sinking a 4 inch nail at 7 seconds 22.  By the time I was on the last ramp, my hit rate may have been still very high, but I would still be there now if someone hadn't stepped in to counter sink it.  Luckily I was on the 3 inch nails, which are significantly easier to pound!

 Hammers were in scarcity on site, so when you found one laying around, you 'acquired' it quickly, only for it to be taken back again later.  I was given the responsibility of guarding the hammer when not in use.  They were impressed with my 'proper' Scruffs builders shorts, courtesy of Screwfix, not to mention my invaluable knee pads.

 On a couple of days we were entertained during our lunch break by the students visiting our refreshment tent, where they would sing their local songs, and dance for us.  If I can get the videos upload now I am back, do take a moment to enjoy their beautiful harmonies and tribal dance moves to entertain.

 A quite moment with Nancy under the newly painted flower mural.

 Playground jungle jim bars developing well, but we still can't picture how incredible it will look like when finished at this stage.

 Monkey bars put together, having used a rotary saw to cut the bars, saw drill bits to make the holes in the side bars, and good old hammer and chisel to gouge out the holes made.  The monkeys well and truly captured behind bars.

 More progress on the ramps.  Had to saw the wood to size too and ensure that there were flat planks and round ones for textured stepping for the children, ones the ramps were in place.

End of another day, and we can see clear slides in place, but not much else.

 Back to the hotel - another gorgeous day to set the view even better.

 A hearty breakfast together every morning from 5 until 6.55am when we had to be on the coaches ready to leave, otherwise it was a yellow card for you, and two yellows, means a red, and a red means home!  Something we didn't want, so I am pleased to report no cards awarded, and we were all in the right places at the right time.

 Every day going into the Township, we would see different shacks and different hardships.  Sometimes we would see tables of animal entrails, complete with sheeps' heads, and people preparing some kind of edible on a street side kettle drum self-made BBQ.  It did not look like the kind of BBQ that would like to sample, just for hygiene alone, as well as the sickly looking animal innards that were being pushed and pulled around.

 As we arrived, on the fencing of the schools sites were all sorts of inspiration signs, and this one captured my attention on one particular day.

 Ramps now in place, I needed to sand down the structure and round off the edges so that they children's hands didn't get splintered.  It was a heavy duty sander, so arm muscles hopefully toning.  Face mask an essential, but I should have worn eye goggles too, so needed a little trip to the medic to wash out my eyes.  Many of us had to get eye baths as the grit that would be blown up through the site was frequent.

 The brand new block at the other side of the playground area, was really coming along, with window panes now in, and it all painted, so the protective iron grills needed placing over the windows so that the panes remain in tact because sadly they could be open to vandalism quite frequently otherwise.

 Fencing built from scratch and cement block wall put together too.  The colour was bringing the children's area to life.

 All the team who constructed the play area had their name put across one of the beams for the 2017 Team - I love that our names are there for the young people to see.  My initials are in the concrete too, and again, that's not something I have ever done before as I would have felt it was vandalism, but as I helped mix the concrete, sink the poles, lay the concrete, I felt able to proudly etch my initials in the setting material.

 Look how transformed this playground set is!  Who wouldn't want to play on it?!

Oh, that's right - I did!  We all did!  Swings can take a load so we know the little reception children will be fine!  :o)

 The North Kent College team expressing our thanks to the college and to all our friends and families for your support - Thank You!

 One brand new classroom block beside a new playground, and a refurbished block the other side, surrounded by a vibrant, safe fenced in area that can now only be accessed from the main school, so that all the little reception age children and their teachers are better protected and safeguarded throughout the day.

 A massive outdoor blackboard for teaching.

 One of the walls on the newly built classroom has every volunteer's first name or nickname etched on the beautiful sunrise mural.  We all feel very proud to have our names up there.

 Another wall has the MellonEducate logo emblazoned on it so that everyone knows it is through the Mellon charity that another school has been expanded.  On the third wall, they have drawn theatre curtains as a large back drop for outdoor performances.  A great way of utilising every aspect of the building.

The handover complete, and the ribbon cutting done with the Principal, the teachers and the volunteers, it was a photo opportunity for Cameron and me with Niall Mellon the founder of MellonEducate Charity.

We all then needed a pensive moment once tools had been downed, before we were to head back to the hotel for one final time from the site.  It was an emotional departure, because we knew the difference we had made and had seen the children whose lives would be transformed because of our work.  Some of these same children came out to wave us goodbye and thank us.  So moving!  Farewell...but we know some, if not all, of us will return.