ISSB production for eco-housing improvements in Kisima Ngeda

Location: Kisima Ngeda village, Lake Eyasi, Manyara District

Client: Eyasi Foundation Trust Ltd, http://eyasi-foundation.org/index.php
This was set up by ‘Kisima Ngeda Tented Lodge’, as a charity to support conservation of the local environment, to ensure survival of the local hunter gatherers, the waHadzabe tribe and the fragile eco-system.

The Eyasi Foundation has 3 particular projects:

1. Bricks for house construction from eg locally available compressed pressed earth/soil material. Housing is traditionally built from thin wood poles with earth fill (wattle and daub). Given that the Lake Eyasi soil has limited clay content, the plaster of these buildings needs constant seasonal repairs. With a good ISSB press this problem can be reduced, with more permanent housing resulting. There is also a need to divert interest to start using burned bricks, which would deplete the fragile natural habitat in the area that supports the hunter-gatherer tribe of the waHadzabe
2. Introduction of effective and simple improved cooking stoves to reduce wood and charcoal use for cooking (currently cooking on 3 stones where most of the heat/energy is lost. The construction of improved stoves will be supported 
3. Conservation of the natural ecosystem and edible plants used by the Hadzabe tribe

Good Earth Trust is supporting with the first project – that of bricks for house construction

Main Donor: Kisima Ngeda Tented Lodge http://www.kisimangeda.com/

Kisima Ngeda Tented Camp is situated on the shores of Lake Eyasi, with sweeping views toward the Rift. Across this seasonal soda lake, the Alipi escarpment wall rises 2,000 feet up into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area providing a stunning backdrop. The camp is beautifully set in a Llala palm and acacia forest and is part of 200-acre family-owned farm with a natural spring nearby which feeds into the lake. It is also home to the Wahadzabe, an ancient, nomadic tribe of bushmen who are one of the last click-speaking hunter-gatherer tribes.

Dates: June –September 2010


Nature of work: Introducing an environmentally friendly building technique as part of the overall objective of conserving the natural ecosystem and working to re-afforest the area with indigenous local trees and forest. The Trust hopes to introduce ISSBs rapidly so as to avert new house building moving to burned brick technology, given the lack of poles for traditional housing. Thus it is hoped that ISSBs will replace burned bricks (BB) in Kisima Ngeda...

Current status: Training was completed in mid May, 5 days training Abdul Martin, tested out 30 mins at rate equivalent to 400 blocks / day, from a 3 person team. Test blocks from soil samples were completely intact after 24 hours in water

Blocks have been made for promotion and awareness raising in the surrounding local village

The Eyasi Foundation is now (September 2010) training other construction workers and BB makers in ISSB technology. Abdul will transfer his skills to others. Block production is then due to get going for an initial showcase house

Results / Outcomes: 1 ISSB machine purchased, 1 person trained, promotion and awareness campaign ongoing, training starting for local construction workers in Sept. The blocks are creating high interest in the local community and there is already interest being shown to expand the programme rapidly.

Other information:  The Eyasi Foundation Trust Ltd (www.eyasifoundationtrust.com ) is now raising funds to procure 6 more manual ISSB DI Block machines, so that there would be 1 in each neighbourhood (Kitongoji) in the village and the housing technology can be replaced with this more eco-sensitive technology