Economic Growth Zambia Project #5548

Help build affordable houses for Zambian villagers

by Association la Voute Nubienne (AVN)

Project Report | Aug 30, 2010
First NV house completed

By Tony Kaye | AVN Management Committee

Brick-making

The first Nubian vault house* in Zambia was successfully completed on August 11th, in the village of Mutakwa. The work was a little behind schedule, as the masons ran out of bricks, and then the truck used to go collect more bricks ran out of petrol... But the client - she is about to move into her new house - is very happy with the result, especially as the cost of roofing a house in Zambia with sheet metal is astronomical, and any project that can reduce construction costs is very welcome.

The house has aroused a lot of interest locally, and three more families from the same village have asked for NV houses to be built for them. And the community in the village of Chipeso, some 18 km away, have asked for a clinic to be built, as well as two houses for the clinic's staff.

The two Zambian NV masons trained in Burkina Faso have recruited two apprentices, so, for the start of the 2011 building season next Spring, they will have plenty of work, and will be able to recruit several new apprentices to help them and to learn the NV technique.

* N.B. As soon as we get some pictures of the completed house, I will post them here (at the moment, there is a technical problem with the digital camera on-site, and a new one needs to be found...no easy matter in this part of the world.) In the meantime, you can see photos of the work being carried out earlier on the house

Completed bricks drying

Masons at work

The building site

Walls

Forming an arch

Arches

Rendering outside walls

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Jun 11, 2010
Moving on up (to sustainable housing!)

By Troy Smith | In the field Visitor

Housing

So there I was, riding with what seemed like about 30 people, in a mini-bus suited for about 8. I had my super huge, super “I am a tourist” backpack on my lap, while I shared the front seat with a chicken I thought was dead, but turned out to be most definitely alive. The driver was rocking a Boy Scout uniform from Troop 4096, and I’ll have you know he did get his first aid merit badge.

This is Zambia, a place full of the strange, confusing, and ridiculous. It is a place full of things that don’t work, and things that do work, but in a way completely unintended. It is the land of Shima (butchered the spelling), a sort of congealed grits that one uses as a fork. It is intimidating, overwhelming, majestic, beautiful, and home to the 100%, most definitively nicest people on planet Earth.

Which brings me to Ten Miles and my journey to the village of Mutakwa. Ten Miles is a little collection of bars, restaurants, and a few homes, so-named because it’s ten miles from Lusaka. There is also a Thirteen Miles, and a Twenty-Two Miles I am fairly sure. No one skipped on the originality.

But I digress. Mutakwa is a small village about six miles from Ten Miles, down a once paved road, which has now turned into a rollercoaster of a dirt path. I was invited by Christopher Phiri Zulu, a native Zambian and super nice guy, to visit the work being done by Association la Voute Nubienne, or The Nubian Vault Association.

This Belgian-based group has been pioneering a new form of architecture, adopted from practices seen in Sudan and Central Asia. This method utilizes only mud-bricks to build extremely durable, and sometimes very elaborate homes. With deforestation and desertification on the rise, people are quickly losing access to the timber and other materials needed for traditional homes. Not to mention, traditional methods of house building have proved to be largely unreliable, and more often than not, these homes bite the dust in the long run.

Forced to buy expensive iron sheets and imported materials, struggling villagers are paying greatly. With this new method of using mud bricks to build solid, efficient homes, people are able to rely on local labor and expertise, and on materials that are easily found in the area.

My boy Christopher, along with my new best friend Justin (Christopher’s brother), showed me all throughout the village. We walked all throughout Mutakwa, looking at the various homes and families, as well as the stone and brick manufacturing that is now taking place. Chris recently finished a five-month course in Burkina Faso, learning all the ins and outs of Nubian Vault architecture. Basically, Chris is the man, and will soon be the “Big Man On Campus” in Mutakwa, no doubt about it.

Also in Mutakwa is Ibrahim, a native Nigerian who also completed the Burkina Faso course. This man, who is deaf and has created his own method of signing, is definitely a lover of life. After talking with him I assure you he is chomping at the bit to build new, efficient homes, and improve his ever-growing community.

They are set to break ground in the next week, and already have several clients lined up.

While in Mutakwa, we visited a woman who is largely bed-ridden with AIDS. She had several huts on her property, most of which had completely collapsed in the elements. With The Nubian Vault’s help, this woman will be able to own an efficient, durable home that will most definitely improve her quality of life.

Being in the villages was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. People who are so genuine and so hospitable deserve a home that can be trusted. With your help, these villagers can do away with one worry, and focus instead on development.

Basically, if you donate, you will be my best friend. So be sure to take that into account. But in all seriousness, The Nubian Vault is sure to be an amazing project, which will only succeed and sustain with your help.

Note from GlobalGiving: When asked what Troy would tell his friends about this organization, he said, "Great! They are making a difference!"

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