For the last three weeks our focus has been on construction, or reconstruction. We have fetched sand, water, gravel, wood, and other materials countless times. We've formed piles, and moved these piles one shovel-full at a time. We have made bricks, burned them, and carried them, made mortar and plaster. The carpentry and masonry were outsourced to specialists, but we did our best to participate.
A couple of technological interventions in the way of flood adaptations have been incorporated in the new work. Most noted are the use of a solid foundation, four courses deep of concrete block, and the addition of bitumen to the plaster mix for the protective outer coat of the building's envelope. The zinc sheets were not our decision. However, they were clearly preferred by the owner of the house and the local NGO we have been working with called TIMAACHAAB (this translates to "lets work together" in the local dialect, Buili).
A couple of technological interventions in the way of flood adaptations have been incorporated in the new work. Most noted are the use of a solid foundation, four courses deep of concrete block, and the addition of bitumen to the plaster mix for the protective outer coat of the building's envelope. The zinc sheets were not our decision. However, they were clearly preferred by the owner of the house and the local NGO we have been working with called TIMAACHAAB (this translates to "lets work together" in the local dialect, Buili).
Working together with these people we have gained a tremendous insight into the minds and hearts of the residents, who are regularly plagued by floods, drought, food insecurity, and poverty, yet live with a resilience and strength that is admirable. It has also been a great lesson in teamwork, making the overwhelming challenges of recovery seem both feasible and pleasurable.
Stepping inside the newly roofed space the room seemed cool, and there was a slight breeze moving from the doorway out of the window. We decided to sleep two nights in the compound, in or
der to test the difference between sleeping on the roof of a traditional structure, to sleeping inside our newly built work. Although the second night we were tempted to sleep on the roof again (nothing compares to sleeping under an open sky), we were driven indoors by the rain. Unfortunately, we noticed a few slight leaks in the roof and window, but overall we staid dry. The noise from the rain was also very loud, but the fatigue and repetitive nature of the sound, made it easy to sleep.
Stepping inside the newly roofed space the room seemed cool, and there was a slight breeze moving from the doorway out of the window. We decided to sleep two nights in the compound, in or
der to test the difference between sleeping on the roof of a traditional structure, to sleeping inside our newly built work. Although the second night we were tempted to sleep on the roof again (nothing compares to sleeping under an open sky), we were driven indoors by the rain. Unfortunately, we noticed a few slight leaks in the roof and window, but overall we staid dry. The noise from the rain was also very loud, but the fatigue and repetitive nature of the sound, made it easy to sleep.
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