DAY 5: Final Day on Site

We arrived on site excited and beaming with pride and positivity having accomplished so much and ready to see our design come to life.

The concrete had cure over night so once on site we began organising
 the layout of the tyres and finalising the layout as we await
the arrival of the concrete truck to finish off the fish.

 The concrete arrives on site and its poured into the fish and the remainder

was used to create the additional seats.

We allowed for the concrete to cure a little then we began decorating

the concrete with tiles and recycled plastic bottles and lids

and the help of the kids on site.

More of the final decoration finishes.

We begin to clear out the site.

Both the kids and the students enjoy the site!!!!

We watch as the kids begin to engage with the site and show us

how talented they really are,

and reminding us just how old we really were .

We began this project with the hope of making a difference in the lives of these young kids but through this process we the students learnt that these kids brought joy to us seeing the difference we made was worth all the hard work and the body aches. It also united us as a group, knowing that we as individuals came together to create some thing so wonderful ... this was an experience of a life time one that will stick with us forever!!!

DAY 4: Concrete!

DAY 4  - The expected arrival of concrete!!!!!

The arrival of tyres!!!

Testing out the tyres.

The boys playing around with the tyres before they get cast into the concrete.

Digging the trench for the tyre to be cast into.

Making sure that the tyre doesn't go anywhere...

Setting out the tyres around the trenches to later hold the shuttering in place.

Having a little fun with the tyres.

They're so bouncy...

And comfortable too...

And so we being laying out the DPC in preparation of the concrete.

Followed by some re-enforcement.

the arrival of the concrete truck ... let the hard work begin



 the first batch of concrete is poured .

concrete is being spread out to allow for accuracy and a smooth finish 



we see how dedicated the team of students are ...making sure the whole site is filled with concrete.

Day 3: Up-Cycling

Day 3 required only a few students on site to dig the rest of the trenches.The rest of us were left in the studio to come up with a design using the recycled materials.

The material .

Experimenting by cutting the bottles into various lengths. Only 1 accident-no fatalities luckily.

Concept designs for the use of bottles on the fish seating.

Playing around with different patterns and arrangements.

Lerato extra excited about the task.

The M-Tech students were complaining that our brainstorming and arranging of recycled bottles were too noisy for them, so we put a beautifully designed sign outside their door.

DAY 2: The Cleanup

We arrived on site, along with positive weather and spirits.

The site as we arrived ,untouched...

The children of Slovo Park greeted us with smiles.

The students a bit overwhelmed... " Where do we start ? "

Clearing of the site got off to a better note with the incentive of some shade.

Photo by Kyle Blake.

While the students were busy clearing the site, the children were going about their day- playing on their version of a "swing". Creative little thinkers!!!

Meanwhile the boys were doing something a little more risky...These kids are fearless.

Photo by Kyle Blake.

Setting out of the trenches was next and so the digging officially began..

Photo by Kyle Blake.

The students getting the hang of it.

Ricardo really getting into it.

The existing truck on the site that the design was formed around.

The boys "thinking " that it would be easy to move that rock. Travis " C'mon Reynard I think I can do it". Reynard " haha, I dont think so Travis ".

Digging of the trenches for the main slab just about complete.

Melissa cleaning up the last of the dirt.

Ricardo taking some time off to play with the kids .

Photo by Kyle Blake.

Some of the community members joined us to help clear the site. ( They also proved to have a lot more strength than us.)

The site at the end of Day 2-trenches dug and site cleared. It was a lot more work than any of us expected but seeing the difference in the site was worth it.