Building Construction & Water Technologies

Hydraform Block Process at the Care to Learn Center

 

HYDRAFORM BLOCK – Low-cost efficient building construction technology

What Is It?

Hydraform block is a relatively new building material developed in South Africa and recently sanctioned by the Kenyan government as viable building material. The blocks are made of compressed earth with a small percentage of cement.  The main ingredient is the builder’s own soil which makes the technology particularly appealing economically. Furthermore, the blocks are interlocking so mortar is needed for only 25% of the project.

Why Use It?

Primarily hydraform blocks are used because they are more economical since the soil is your own, the process requires considerably less cement and there are lessened transport costs for materials.  It also is a quicker process than stone construction and the blocks can be produced anywhere making them a viable material in rural and remote areas.  There is even an element of portability since the blocks are freely interlocked without mortar (with the exception of the foundation and the headers. Block production and construction requires only a small team of trained/skilled workers and training can take place on the job.  Therefore, locals can be involved in the building process.  Another advantage to those who have been trained and have access to a compression machine is the generation of income through contract building or production and sale of the blocks themselves.

How Have We Applied It?

Care to Learn International has purchased a compression machine and has used it in building hydraform structures on the property.  These structures will serve as ready examples for our training classes as we educate individuals and communities in the use of the machine, the production of blocks and the process of  building construction.

What Are the Potential Outcomes of Teaching the Hydraform Process?

  • Affordable buildings
  • Skills development
  • Community enrichment by completed projects
  • Community involvement & pride
  • Income generation (selling blocks)
  • Employment opportunities for those trained

Water Strategies

 

WATER TECHNOLOGIES

What Are They?

Several water strategies that Care to Learn plans to utilize and/or teach are listed below:

  • Harvesting or capturing runoff and rainwater using gutter-to-tank systems, fundis (above ground catchment tanks), and underground water banks
  • Simple pumping systems using low-cost inertia hand pumps for shallow wells and Kickstart manual pumps for irrigation & income generation
  • Purification/filtration methods such as: bio-sand filtration which is a slow but thorough filtration using layered sand and gravel; ceramic water purifiers (CWP) using porous ceramic or clay inner filters; Simple Solar Water Disinfection (SODIS); and Safe Water Systems (SWS) such as Waterguard® and NaOCl disinfectant solution

Why Use Them?

  • to combat drought and low seasonal rainfall
  • to increase catchment and storage preservation
  • to irrigate small plots of land (up to two acres)
  • efficient use of water
  • no salt build-up in the soil
  • grow crops year-round
  • grow higher value crops
  • get higher yields
  • to dramatically improve water quality
  • contaminated water is a major public health issue in Kenya
  • 80% of premature deaths caused by non-potable water
  • to reduce the risks of diarrhea, hepatitis, typhoid fever, cholera and other waterborne diseases

What Are Our Plans for Training & Community Outreach?

  • Exhibit all of the systems for water catchment, pumps & purification
  • Educate the community in each method & appropriate technology
  • Enable use of the systems within the community
  • Enable community members with resources for income generation with Kickstart products (manual pressurized pumps) and with Waterguard products (liquid disinfectant)

What Are the Potential Outcomes of Teaching Water Strategies?

  • More abundant water supply for families involved
  • Cleaner water
  • Less waterborne diseases such as diarrhea & cholera
  • Efficient irrigation for small garden plots
    • longer & multiple growing seasons
    • better quality crops
  • Micro-enterprise possibilities with Kickstart & Waterguard