Sustainable Housing and sanitation
Many families are polygamous in this village and due to poverty at times you find co wives and their children all living in a one room house. The situation is not ideal and can easily be sorted as at times there is enough land to share but housing is the problem. We want to teach the residents sustainable building using local and cheap resources available to them. Adobe houses , Nubian vaults and wooden roof houses using earthen plaster. Composting toilets are to be introduced as many are still using plastic bags or nothing which contributes to spread of diseases. also there have been many incidences of children and adults falling in pit latrines that are badly constructed hence composting dry toilets providing a better solution. We are going to use the same mentioned methods to build on our farm and orphanage as the youth come and help out as they acquire the skills which will not only enable them to get their independence by building their own house but earn an income as they teach others. we need wood, toilet seats , cement, vent pipes, and mostly any advice, suggestions on what the best methods can be. Building work will start in february so any assistance physically or virtually is higly appreciated. Also if you know natural things wood, weeds that can be used. Deforestation is another effect of population increase due to the fact that trees are cut for firewood and clearing land for food. Alternative biomass, bio gas digesters, solar cookers and electicity. Plans of building bigger yet permanent solar cookers that will last a while more than the kyoto plans will be appreciated. Briquette making machines are required to teach women how to make them with every day waste material and earn an income from the excess.The schools in the area will be a definite market.
Thanks Vijai. Yes indeed food security is what we are aiming for. They at times do buy food only because the area has experienced certain extreme high temps that the crop has mostly dried up. Also the rains came later when the planting season is past so caused confussion with some farmers which has caused food shortage. At the moment we are waiting for an agreement after tomorrows meeting on which crops they will grow. Due to deforestation, the area is in need of tree planting. Yet we cant consider planting trees which dont produce food as it is what is most needed. Hence the meeting to discuss how and what is best. I hadnt given an update the on this issue too for we are still searching for the seeds of vitiver the grass that controls soil erosion and restores the soil fertility. We want to offer the farmers this grass to plant initially with the food as it will not only act as a hedgerow but its food to livestock. Basically we are using the strategy of a family not only having an annual crop, but also a medium duration crop and fruit trees which wil take like 2-3 years to fruit but will then on assure the farmer of an income and in the long run health benefits will also be achieved.
The tree planting issue is a very serious one as due to lack of wind breakers just the other day (Wednesday ,lastweek) heavy winds just blew off most rooftops for individuals and also a government school and private school nearby. We have already given some assistance to Jabeeri Primary school to repair its roof and addressed the issue with the residents who also understand why we have to act immediately.
I will inform you of the outcome of the meeting tomorrow. Once again, thank you for your interest in assisting our village.
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Yours in Service
JIS Birungi
Joanne,
In the first post in this thread, you have mentioned a lot of different items required for the village. Each of these items will involve a certain expenditure.
In case the village is far from self-sustenance, a greater focus on this aspect is required at this stage. To begin with, the most basic needs are food and water. To what extent are these needs met? Do people grow their own food, or do they buy it?
In case the village is already self-sufficient in food, we could then examine other aspects in the proper perspective. Self-sufficiency in food would mean that the village is capable of further generation of income. In case they are not self-sufficient in food, then the first issue is to achieve food security. Without food security they cannot achieve anything else.
So the first issue to examine could be - is the village self-sufficient in food?
Vijai
Thanks Vijai
Will definitely do all that next week and get back to you. However, how far the village is from self sustainance is absolutely no where. Basically we are starting from zero.
Yours in Service
JIS Birungi
You could start with the basics.
Step 1
- identify activities where income can be generated.
- for each activity, estimate the approximate income generation
Step 2
- identify activities where money is to be spent
- for each activity, estimate the approximate expenses
Step 3
based on Step 1 and Step 2 above, estimate the following:
- what is the gap between estimated income and estimated expenses.
Step 3 will give you an indication of how close or how far away the village is from self-sustenance.
The first milestone to be achieved must be self-sustenance in all aspects of basic human existence.
Once this target has been achieved, further growth in any sphere of activity can be attempted.
Vijai