Low cost rural eco – friendly house construction for 3 orphans of the HIV/Aids pandemic

Location: Siwandeti, Ngateu, Kiranyi, Meru district, Arusha
Client: Grandmother Coco of the 3 orphans Angelica, Freddy and Joshua Gilbert, and Mzee Lucas – Great Uncle to the same orphan children
Main donor: Dr. Phillipe Gaillard, WHO specialist in HIV/Aids
Dates: Initial contact was made in November 2009. The project began at start July 2010, once funds were available, and it is ongoing to date

Nature of work:

Construction of eco-friendly, low cost rural dwelling (3 roomed house 10m x 3m), with ancillary facilities to support home sustainability: VIP latrine, underground Sump tank for irrigation (purpose is for income generation through market gardening) - for the 3 children and their grandmother Coco.

Excavation of site soil, taken from sump water tank pit, foundation furrows of 0.5m width and the VIP latrine 6m deep pit

Soil testing, dark soil from 2nd m down to 4th m: block mix 14: 5 sand: 1 cement (19: 1 - @ 5% cement stabilisation);

Soil testing, red soil from 4th m down to 6th m: block mix 15: 4 sand: 1 cement (19: 1 - @ 5% cement stabilisation);

Current Status:

VIP latrine completing, sump tank excavated, CI block production to build the sump tank started, foundations for the house excavated, DI ISSB production now at over 75% with 3000 blocks produced of the 4000 target.

Results / Outcomes:

4 local waArush (settled Maasai) have been trained in ISSB block production processes with varying soil profiles. Local labourers have sampled a new technology within their reach, given materials are all locally available. They have been particularly impressed with the block strength and visual outcome.