The village Amani is located at the foot of the cliff. It was in this village where SDO realized its first school. Joop always used to take footballs to the Dogon schools during his research. In 1994 the village elder had a request for him: “You’re a professor, please give them a school instead of footballs … When Joop and Gonny celebrated their 60th birthday in 1994, they felt it was a nice opportunity to realize this requested school.
In 1995 the first school had its festive opening. The school is constructed from the traditional construction material banco. The ‘brickwork’ walls made of dried mud bricks were plastered with mud. The school consists of three classrooms interconnected by a porch. The roof of the porch is made of millet stalks and the roof of the classrooms is made of corrugated iron sheets. In the corner an office for the director was realized.
Apart from constructing the school, school furniture, educational material and uniforms were also provided. On the school grounds a well, sanitary facilities and housing for two teachers were realized as well. The houses are fitted with showers and toilets.
In 2002 a second block with three classrooms was constructed due to the increased amount of pupils. This block was placed at an angle from the first one, which allows the two buildings to create a natural school yard. This second block was constructed from plastered concrete blocks and was painted afterwards. In 2007 the first school received its first real renovation after 13 years. The wooden roof beams were replaced with steels ones, the corrugated iron sheets were replaced and the walls were repaired.
