May 2024 Visit to Assess Results of the Earthquake Recovery Program
The project involves a construction block manufacturing process and building techniques that are new to Tanzania. The technology originated with the Earth Institute of Sri Lanka. Prior to COVID we had purchased from India the manually-operated machine that was designed in Sri Lanka and is used to make the Hollow Interlocking Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks (HICSEB if you want an awkward acronym). These blocks have:
- vertical holes through which steel rebar is run and cemented in place (Hollow)
- lintel layer blocks made with a different insert in the compression box that have a Hollowed out upper surface in which 2 runs of rebar are laid, tied to the vertical rebar with wire, and cemented in place
- raised detents that Interlock successive rows of wall blocks
- a pressure of some 15 tons applied by the manufacturing machine hence Compressed
- +/- 5% cement which Stabilizes the cured blocks
- a composition determined by local subsoils (below the organic layer) – Earth
The first house was built at the Kagondo trade school operated by the Kolping Society of Tanzania, the NGO managing the initiative. This site was chosen because, as indicated above, the technology was new to Tanzania, and we knew there was going to be a steep learning curve that could be better managed at the school than out in the village of Nyamuhunga. This house was successfully completed and two trade school teachers have been living in it for several years.
The second house was built in Nyamuhunga village. Villagers chose one of the most needy families: Anicia, her husband, and their five young children. The photos below show the family’s old mud-wattle ‘home’, the new HICSEB home, and a closeup of the quality of blocks in the walls.
Anicia’s old mud-wattle house
Anicia’s new HICSEB house
Happy family (older son in school) and James
Anicia’s living room with village elders, Gerry Mushema (ICO Field Lead), and spicy grasshoppers
Closeup quality of HICSEB walls
Anita and James in front of her old home with a gift of avocados. Note crutches by the door!
Interior of Anita’s old home, with a straw floor but, once again, spicy fried grasshoppers (a gourmet treat for special guests)
Anita’s new home, walls and foundation complete. Sweetbert is the construction foreman for the housing initiative.
