The road to Llanchama is a wide dirt track that is often muddy due to the frequent rains and it takes almost an hour to traverse the 4 miles from the main road.

On Monday and Tuesday, we EWBers did our version of an Extreme Homemaker but in the local school. When we visited on Friday, we realized that the classrooms were in need of some sprucing up. The school children didn´t have enough desks and many were standing during the six-hour school day. 

 So we did the impossible. With the help of our driver Jack, we found a carpenter who could make 15 new L-shaped desk tops to repair those missing and we ordered 10 new desks to seat 2 children or sufficient for 20 children. Of course, we needed all the materials by Monday evening! Due to the short time period, all of the material would given to us unassembled and unvarnished. 

On Monday, we put tops on 15 broken desks and prepared a classroom for painting. We had numerous helpers which made the work more fun and helped build community ownership. 

Jeremiah and Chris with Dr. Orihuela and Dr. Lalor´s help assembled all 10 desks because several students were sick and the first crew had painted in the hot humid Amazon heat.

We send a special thanks to Chris who actually thought to bring tools! At this point, we all would have welcomed a cooling rain! 

Also special thanks to all of our very special helpers who caught on within minutes of the exact tools and pieces of wood that Jeremiah and Chris needed to assemble the desks. Amazing kids!