Sustainability is a key to the success of Shalom and the education it provides. We are therefore using and incorporating appropriate alternative technologies as well as running business projects. The business projects will provide income to support the running of the school and give students practical experience and support in setting up income-generating projects in their communities. Costs are being kept low whilst not compromising on standards or design by using simple, sustainably and locally sourced materials and making as much as possible on site. The aim is to make a positive, not negative, impact on the environment and surrounding community. We believe this can be achieved at reasonable costs whilst still having an above average standard of facilities and resources, class sizes of only 40 (instead of 80-180 as in other schools) and regular pay for teachers.
Sustainable aspects include:
- interlocking compressed earth bricks made on site which are stronger than burnt bricks, quick to make and build with, require no trees for firing, no transport costs and less mortar
- tree seedlings will be planted to replace all timber used for roofing, support poles and doors
- planning the buildings around the existing mature trees and rocks
- rainwater harvesting
- sourcing as much as possible locally, to provide employment and reduce transport costs
- using grey water for irrigation
- bio-gas systems using flush toilet waste from dormitories – this will provide gas for cooking whilst recycling the water for the toilets
- fuel-efficient stoves
- waste incinerators providing hot water
- solar power
- compostable toilets for classrooms and workshops
- composting of all bio-degradable waste
- skilled people in the workshops will produce as much as possible for the building and maintenance
- children unable to pay school fees will be sponsored through TESS as at present, whilst others will pay standard fees
- employing students during holidays to earn school fees
- income-generating projects and businesses will supplement the school income from fees, so making it possible to limit class sizes to 40
- supplementing the standard boarding school diet with daily fresh fruit, vegetables, milk and eggs from the school farm
- employment of local people
- development of the nearby trading centre
- hiring out of facilities for events and conferences