By Tony Kaye | AVN Vice-President
6 NV buildings completed
AVN's first construction season in Ghana has just finished, with impressive results. NV buildings range from a chicken-house to the wing of the royal palace of the traditional king of Kazigo. In between these two extremes, NV masons and apprentices have built a dormitory, a computer lab in an eco-village, an office for a local library, and, finally, an office for the local AVN team in Bolgatanga. This wide range of buildings has helped to convince local people in the Upper east region around Bolgatanga – including the Department of Rural Housing - that the NV concept is a valid, affordable, and appropriate alternative to current construction techniques (corrugated iron or reinforced concrete roofs on cement block or mud brick walls).
12 Ghanaian apprentices in training
Training of local NV masons was kick-started by a team of 5 experienced NV masons fronm Burkina Faso. Despite the challenges of language, different units of measure, building techniques, and currency, these Burkinabe masons managed to establish successful relations and train 12 Ghanaian apprentices. The chief mason, Drissa Guira, supported by the Training Manager Bruno Vialaret, ran several 'accelerated training' workshops in AVN's new office, which the apprentices say effectively complemented their on-site training.
First national AVN-Ghana masons' congress
On June 9th, the AVN-Ghana team and the trainer mason from Boromo, Drissa Guira, met the Ghanaian apprentices for the first national congress of AVN-Ghana. 8 apprentices and 2 trainer masons from the Department of Rural Housing shared their experiences on the NV building sites, and discussed the NV concept, its diffusion strategy, the pivotal role of NV masons and their relations with AVN. The congress was also the occasion to take stock of the past season's results, and to prepare for the next season's demands for NV buldings from people in the region, - especially for village houses for local families.
As always, we are very grateful for your continuing interest in AVN, and look forward to receiving your support for the further development of our work in Ghana – our first programme in anglophone West Africa.
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