By Tony Kaye | AVN Vice-President
There is not much new to report from our programme in Mali since my last update three months ago - our programme can't operate in the field during the summer (June, July, August), when intermittent and often heavy rains are incompatible with mud brick construction. And many NV masons are also subsistence farmers, busy with agricultural work during these months.
Inauguration of the Laboratoire d’Agri-Culture (LAC) of Bamako
In June, local AVN staff took part in the inauguration of this urban initiative in sustainable 'green' construction, biodiversity protection, agricultural experimentation, and local arts and crafts. The site includes several vaulted buildings constructed by NV masons.
AVN on the international scene
If the summer rains prevented construction in Mali, our AVN-International representatives have been very busy promoting our programme, networking, and fund-raising. Events to which AVN have been invited recently include:
- the Terra 2016 International conference on Earthern Architecture in Lyon, France, July 11-14, where AVN CEO Thomas Granier and colleagues presented a paper on the challenges of using locally sourced construction materials in the context of AVN's large-scale programme for development of a market in earthern architecture in the Sahel
- the SXSW Eco Conference, Austin, Texas, Oct 10-12, at whch AVN was a finalist in the 'Place by Design' competition, in the category 'Resilience & Health'
- the Third UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development Habitat III, Quito, Ecuador, Oct 17-20, at which AVN jointly ran a Networking Event, together with the Ghana Affordable Housing Network and other partners, on "Better building in Africa"
- the 22nd Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Marrakech, Morocco, Nov 7 - 18 which at AVN had a booth and also took part in many side-events.
Remember that it is in some measure due to your support that, over the last 10 years and more, AVN has come to be recognised as a major player for its programme of promoting and growing a market for sustainable, eco-friendly, affordable construction in West Africa. Please continue to help, and to tell your friends, family, and colleagues about our work, to complement the networking and on the international stage by our (very small and over-worked) AVN-International team based in in France.
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