Walter sent a few shots of the first day of construction of the “cancha” or covered play area at Nuestra Senora del Refugio in Ahuachapan.  TLAU donated the three classrooms on the second floor in the photo to the left, and the large expanse of scorched earth in front of them (extending beyond the right margin of the photo) will soon be covered by a simple but sturdy metal roof.  This is a common arrangement for schools in El Salvador. Since it is a tropical climate, it’s always warm enough to play outside, so walls aren’t necessary.  However, because the equatorial sun is so strong, it is standard practice to provide a covered area for student activities and school functions.  If you’ve ever experienced the sun in Central America, you’ll understand how valuable the shade is.

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