Welcome to Ukunda

Diani Beach at Ukunda

Welcome to Ukunda.  Ukunda is the town where  we will be building our new school.  Ukunda is near some of the world's most beautiful beaches, as you can see.  People come from around the world to visit these beaches.  Ukunda is the town where many beach workers live, including hotel staff, prostitutes, and "beach boys."

Mbali enjoying the beach

Building plot for school in Ukunda

This is our plot of land in Ukunda.  As you can see, we have a lot of work to do.  During the past several days we have been trying to come to agreement with all the  neighbors concerning the plot's boundaries.  Even though the boundaries were set by a surveyor, there are still a lot of things to work out.  Some neighbors claimed part of the plot as their own.  They have been cultivating the plot for many years, and they want to be paid for every tree that they have planted on our plot.  So I have been paying for cassava plants, mango trees, and coconuts.  Luckily the village elder "Ali" who has been helping us is a good man, and things are working out okay.

After agreeing on the boundaries, we erected a temporary fence and hired a watchman.  

This young boy was driving around while we were working.  His toy rumbles like a motorcycle.  When he pushes it, a string slips over rubber that covers the axle of the wheel.  Then the plastic jug amplifies the sound coming in through the string, so that when he pushes it you think a motorbike is coming.