FOCUS ON THE RESOURCE-BASED BUILDING MATERIALS PROJECT IN THE GAMBIA. Culled
from the Daily Observer – by Omar Ngum.

The appropriate Technology Unit (ATU) of the department of Community
Development has over the years been involved in the identification, design,
development, promotion and eventual dissemination of various appropriate
technology devices to different categories of beneficiaries. Some of the
devices that have previously been developed and promoted include farm
implements, burnt bricks made of clay and different prototypes of improved
cooking stoves using a strategy that also has a training component, which
allows for the transfer of skills and techniques to blacksmiths, masoners
and sometimes to direct project beneficiaries.

The focus of this article however is on the development of a “Resource-Based
Building Materials Project; a technical co-operation project between The
Gambia Government and Commonwealth Secretariat, which concentrates on the
production and promotion of pressed bricks and roofing tiles as a means of
contributing to improved housing conditions using locally available
materials and resources. With pressed bricks made of recycled gravel dust
mixed with cement and roofing tiles made of fine aggregates of gravel mixed
with sand and cement, the project aims at making these products easily
accessible, affordable and environmentally friendly.

Research has shown that there are large amounts of unused gravel dust at
existing quarries all over the country, which could be used either in brick
or roofing sheets production. According to the co-coordinator of the project
Mr. Lang Suwareh, the production of “pressed laterite bricks” started as far
back as 1995/96 and that so far 96 village masoners have been trained
countrywide. On the other hand, 57 people have been trained in the
production of roofing sheets, which commenced in August last year.
Production centres have since been established in Brikama, Mansa Konko, Fara
Feni and Barra. With the exception of Brikama, the other three centres are
run and managed by their respective Village Development Committees (VDCs),
with a view to enhancing local sustenance. Whilst a simple manual mould is
used for producing the bricks, roofing sheets are produced with the use of
both electrical and manual vibrating machines installed at the different
sites.

Mr. Suwareh further revealed that based on results achieved so far, a number
of industries and NGOs have expressed interest in promoting the use of these
technologies. A good example he said was The Future In Our Hands (FIOH), an
NGO currently using the bricks and roofing sheets in the construction of
classroom blocks in different parts of the country. There are also said to
be demonstrations of these materials in Brikama, Tumani Tenda and Lamin with
plans to expand the scope of the project to other parts of the country by
next year because of the potentials that exist. Hence private investors and
projects in the construction industry are particularly encouraged to
consider the venture as viable and indeed worth the effort. At the time of
reporting, a contract had already been agreed between FASE and ATU to train
80 youths in these techniques, for subsequent self-employment. There is also
a co-operation agreement with the SSHFC at Brusubi. Currently the unit is
experimenting the production of floor tiles and pavement blocks, which it
hopes to expand upon.

The roofing sheets in particular have been found to be more durable than
corrugated iron sheets (CIS) because of its higher resistance to rust and
corrosion caused by moist salty breeze and dust. Houses built of these
materials are also said to be cooler and may even be bullet proof
considering that the blocks are not hollow. This has however not been tested
yet.

A simple economic calculation and comparative analysis conducted by project
staff indicates savings of more than 30% between buildings made of pressed
bricks and roofing sheets over those made of conventional cement blocks and
CIS.

-------------------------------------- The end
------------------------------------

As I had to re-type the above article myself, all typos are probably mine
and I apologize for them in advance. My interest in posting this on the L is
to share this information with others who might be planning to build houses
in The Gambia, in the not so distant future, as well as those who might be
interested in investing in such a venture or support it.

Have a good day, Gassa.





_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp

<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>

To view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface
at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to:
[log in to unmask]

<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>