RHC construction process - on-site training for the community

Construction began in April 2010 and has been an amazing process. A University of Cincinnati Graduate Architecture Student has been the on-site project director in collaboration with our local partners from SHED Foundation. They have been working around the clock to develop a building that is constructable using no power tools, all local materials and skills and could be built by anyone in the community. Yet, this building will be resistant against earthquakes and other natural occurrences in the region. It will utilize natural ventilation and daylighting to create a comfortable interior and it will be the first building of a health center for a community that presently has no access to health care.

RHC Interlocking Stabilized Soil Blocks (ISSB)

One of the most exciting innovations of this project is the use of ISSB - interlocking stabilized soil blocks - to replace the typical fired bricks used locally. These come from a hand press and are extremely consistent, durable and strong. They require no firing and have a much longer life span while using much less cement for the mortar. Though these are used in other parts of Africa, they are not commonly used in this region. It is our hope to introduce this technology locally through training and assist the development of local small businesses that would rent the press or produce bricks.

Meetings with Roche Village Council

While in Roche in June, 2010, we had meetings with the Roche Village Council as well as with a newly-formed Roche Health Center Committee. We discussed many issues including the health center goals, progress on construction and the impacts on the community.

Groundbreaking

The "literal groundbreaking" occurred today. This is always an exciting day on a job site, but especially so here. There are no power tools or heavy equipment - this is all being constructed by hand with small tools. The goal is that everything being done could be replicated by anyone in the community.

First major materials delivery

From Emily, our on-site director - "On Wednesday, I had a shipment of 200 bags of cement arriving from Mwanza. It was a hectic morning arranging where the cement should be stored, purchasing a lock, and negotiating a watchman. The driver was never very clear about his arrival time, and with only about twenty minutes to spare, I called Owino and asked if he could find people to help us unload the truck. Because need is so great here, even the villagers most devoted to the health center would like to be paid something. We checked the price of unloading cement in Shirati, and found it was 300/bag. The total would then be 60,000 tsh for the truck! I hoped the Roche people wouldn’t propose such a price. When we finally arrived at the chairman’s office, our new storage location, Owino had a large group waiting. Our truck driver was in a hurry to get back to Mwanza and was pushing us to unload quickly. Owino reminded the villagers that this cement is really for them, not for me or for SHED, but for the benefit of their community. Eleven people then agreed to unload the cement as fast as they could for 2,000 tsh each (about $1.50 US). The scene that followed was inspiring. The men quickly divided themselves, and it looked as if a race had begun. Calling to one another and literally running, they were all determined to keep the cement moving into the storage building as quickly as possible. Though it needed no translation, Killian would sometimes say to me, “That man is saying, ‘We know this is for us. That is why we are willing to sacrifice ourselves.’” or “That one is saying, ‘We are so glad Owino called us so that we can help get this done.’” When the men inside the house started falling behind those unloading the truck and those running it from truck to storage building, I jumped in to help, fully expecting a “No, let me sista.” I believe it was a sign of how seriously they took the work of quickly moving the cement that they readily accepted my help. As we finished stacking, many of those we had hired came inside to count the bags for themselves, to be sure that Roche Health Center was not missing even one bag. The attitude of the villagers is not always easy to decipher as an outsider, but on this day, it couldn’t be mistaken that they view this health center as a great gift that they will gladly give of themselves to help realize. We have another shipment arriving tomorrow, and though it is a Saturday, I can’t wait to go to work."

First ISSB bricks

After training from the manufacturers of the brick press, Makiga, Inc (from Nairobi), our brick team began making progress on the bricks for the health center.

Roche Health Center digital renderings

These renderings were completed by University of Cincinnati Graduate Architecture students in studios taught by Assistant Professor Michael Zaretsky in Fall 2008 and Fall 2009. They are not completely accurate but provide a sense of the design proposal.