When nature meets the mind in Malawi

Neverending Food Permaculture Discovery Centre

 
It is currently the middle of construction season. I am now diving face first into community builds focusing on developing the rural regions in Malawi. Development is very contradictory but I know and truly believe durable strong low technology earth buildings will create breathable stunning affordable homes. With this passion I am slowly sharing the knowledge, while designing and site managing with my team at Grassroots Eco-Build.  Using earth in construction is still very sensitive. I say this because it is the material used in villages where it gives a status of being economically deprived. Not only this, but there are other factors, like the cost, time, labour and quality of construction. The preparation time for fired bricks and rammed earth are very similar but fired bricks are faster and easier to build. Using earth also destroys the top layer of soil and effects the environment in a different way so this needs to be accounted for and designed into the space accordingly.

Rammed earth corner section

As we develop, the more builds we construct and therefore the more proof we have to show success. The more reports of cost, time, labour and quality of construction will bring detail to get more attention to this traditional technology that has been abandoned due to the culture of what development is. 

Glass bottle window at Neverending Food PDC

Neverending Food PDC interior

Persevering, I have now been connected to groups desperate to find alternative building solutions due to the lack of trees and natural resources left in extremely rural villages. In the last year Grassroots Eco-Build has trained 10 people from Chitedze village while constructing the Permaculture Discovery Centre at Neverending Food.

We have also been very fortunate to have partnered with World of Difference, a superb team from America who are supporting our environmental education program at Kapudzama Government School. Grassroots Eco-Build are constructing a girls hostel using natural materials and local skills while teaching many of the community about this appropriate technology. As we use earth for this community construction we have also designed and started the permaculture gardens to create efficiency in design and promote a sustainable livelihood. As the community have been fully involved in helping the volunteer group in so many activities including construction, painting existing school classrooms, renovating desks and just being such great light to the community I know they will be missed. Anything can be done with such positive energy and we are truly blessed to be a part of such a huge influence within the Kapudzama community. What a great introduction to such an incredible project.

Environmental education week; introducing all levels of the community to the project

Eston Mgala teaching the ingredients to make a good compost pile

Mapping exercise at Kapudzama giving students knowledge and ownership in design

Digging foundations; the start of  Kapudzama girls hostel

A fantastic leadership team missing our Billy Milimbo!

My 4 years in Malawi have boosted ideas and needs and truly shown me what a rich country Malawi could be with its natural resources and constant energy from the sun. I hope and pray to empower more so they can live smart lives knowing and understanding the riches around.

   

Flood response affordable home using tithonia; termite resistant indigenous plant

Last month was also very exciting, I have had 2 volunteers from Italy who have had an interesting time taking part and learning different skills in each building project being constructed at present. These include;

·         Glass bottle cutting with natural locally available materials to build the windows of the                        Permaculture Discovery Centre, Chitedze

·         Profiling the foundations of guest house at Ecoline Farm, 6 miles

·         Ramming earth walls, building a house at Landirani Office, Njewa

·         Designing and constructing the beginning of a flood reponse/ affordable home at Dali Pottery, 6          miles

Cutting glass bottles at Neverending food Permaculture Discovery Centre

While defining different techniques of natural construction I have also developed the importance of using waste as a resource.  Waste is mismanaged throughout Malawi and therefore also a natural resource. As more cost efficient design logistics were being planned I realized collections of recyclable waste would be very beneficial to our projects. With no system of waste management, myself and a team of Malawi volunteers started working together to research and understand the future needs for Lilongwe.

1 year on and I have a passionate team of Malawians taking the responsibility to conduct recycling collections, education programs and environmental talks. We have been working hand in hand with the City Council to encourage and build capacity in waste innovations. This has given further inspiration to target and train some skilled people from the community to design and construct appropriate waste innovations.We share and spread our technical knowledge to existing waste management groups.

 

Our projects now include events, to raise money for the formation, design & construction of new recycling hubs for ease of recyclable collections throughout Lilongwe Town. Many companies that benefit from our service reusing the paper and plastics provide resources and support for us to grow in which we are truly grateful. 

ICCM promoting our recycling initiatives at the Farmers Market, Lilongwe

 Our sustainable holistic approach using recycling collections to support our education workshops will expand and attract more activities that will be focused in rural communities looking at many other ways to manage waste to benefit the people, including bio-gas. The hands on approach and community participation using all interested key people already in existing structures will give a positive response. The ICCM team is very dedicated and our ethos promotes hard work to ensure we obtain money through recycling collection and the selling of items made out of waste to move forward rather than depending on funding which proves unsuccessful for many projects in Malawi due to the ignorance of continual support.

ICCM recently constructed our first recycling waste sorting structure at the Wildlife Centre in Lilongwe. This is designed and built with local materials and waste; bamboos grow throughout the grounds that are very sustainable and recyclables create suitable walling for the bins.

 

Completion of our first ICCM waste sorting structure; Lilongwe

My time in Malawi turned 4 years this month of August and has provided me with enough experience to understand the culture to bring about small amounts social of change. I am committed to promoting all types of design including natural construction and waste innovations. I have been privileged to meet such incredible people to create that international network while also giving me more inspiration to continue my path. There are always projects to be completed and people to support so please, if you can support a great cause...

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/visa-to-enrich-lives-with-environmental-knowledge

African Vision Malawi; Private House constructed by trained earth builders from my past projects at Sams Village