Raising Rwanda: Women Farmers' Training Center

In Rwanda, rural housing has traditionally been built with mud bricks, wood, mud plaster, and the use of a concrete screed.  In October, when the members of the cooperative decided to build a training center that would also serve as their office and community center, they proactively did two things: (1) they applied for a building permit; and (2) they approached Africa Development Promise for support. Once the permit was granted the women gathered the wood and started building the mud bricks, which they stacked neatly in rows as they waited for cement so they could start building the training center. 

A month later, the bricks were swept away by the rain. They tried to salvage the bricks by covering them with a plastic tarp but working with mud certainly has its challenges especially when it rains.  The ladies regrouped and made new bricks; which is a great testament to their determination and resilience.  With bricks in hand, they began the construction of their building.

However, they faced another set -back.  Soon after the construction had started, a district official stopped by to inspect the project—only to discover that they were using mud bricks.  The project was immediately halted because new building codes no longer permitted the use of the mud bricks that residents were used to and could afford.  Instead, they were told to use concrete brick.  This was a significant oversight on the part of the Sector who approved the permit, especially since the Bugeresa District is slated for redevelopment that includes a new international airport, hotels and convention centers.  All efforts to negotiate with the Sector fell on deaf ears and the progress the ladies had made was once again erased.

For Africa Development Promise, we learned a valuable lesson —Inspect and verify through the local government that all documents are in order.  Going forward, the co-op and Africa Development Promise staff will coordinate more closely with the Sector government, and establish a relationship that will ideally eliminate these kinds of regulatory and/or miscommunication mishaps. 

However, the good news is that we were able to raise enough funds from awesome donors like you to start purchasing the building materials. Not to mention the cement factory in Rwanda that was closed for renovation is opening back up, making the cost of Rwandan cement a little cheaper than it was when we first posted our budget. This will hopefully cover some of the cost associated with purchasing cement bricks.

The greenhouse that is next to the training center site has been constructed, and planting has begun. It's just the motivation these women need to see their co-op becoming a pillar of development and progress for their rural village. Once the planting is done, they can once again focus on their new building.  

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