Homes for Sudan HS4S: Week Five: Mayo Building Workshop hosted by Mayo Women’s Association

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This week started a bit slow.

Saturday evening and Sunday morning brought a nice rainstorm with lightening, which dried out for Sunday and Monday but left small lakes in some areas.

Nearby flooded soccer field with mosque (picture taken by Ustaz Hooman)

Sunday the truck was out of diesel fuel and with the shortage, our team driver spent the whole day waiting in line for fuel only to find that he needed a special permit from the Ministry of Transportation. Fuel shortages meant that delivery of soil and other supplies were limited. The work started a little late, nevertheless all was well. We were excited to get our ‘working’ mixer delivered, but it too was delayed until Monday.

Basic supplies for the domes in our store room: barbed wire, polypropylene bags and cement

The team took the time to make some decisions on the placement of windows, so a round – table/dome discussion (their third of the class) ensued. Ustaz Hooman explained the different methods of mapping out the window frames. The team gave their suggestions on the placement of the windows for the best ventilation. By day three, the window frames were visible. The smaller sized bags (50 cm) made for even faster work, and the team members are seeing their masterpiece materialize.

Checking out the window frame and standing on the masterpiece

The gang poses

Monday the mixer arrived with a mixer expert and mechanic to teach the team how to operate it. Several of them quickly mastered the techniques, though the mixer is old and rickety, and requires a few ‘rigged’ pieces to make it work. It was a learning curve for everyone to figure out how it was faster to have a mixer than to mix by hand, and by the end of the day they had adjusted to its rhythm. Mixers are generally for concrete.

A blue mixer arrives

Comradery

Tuesday it rained the full day making work on the site difficult, so it was a classroom day. Ustaz Hooman worked on some adaptable designs with the class for Darfur. He gave them design assignments. They brought up questions that they had on costs and were arguing to not have cement. The classic example arrived when the rain caused a house across the street to collapse. Ahmed Ali explained to the team that the cement prevented the soil from melting.

Alia’s uncle arrived on site again on Wednesday! He is very serious about rebuilding Wadi Halfa and is looking to hire some of the trainees when they finish their course. We told him that the SHPDO and NOHS folks are going off to work for their respective NGOs, but that the Mayo guys might welcome the work, at least the ones who are not married.

Israa from ARC Peace

Impending rain

It seemed like a short week because of the rain, but Thursday was a fun day in particular. HS4S’s director, who usually takes the pictures handed the camera to Leila who took over. We were astonished to meet an old friend from Port Sudan - Abeer’s grandfather who had come to visit. We had met ‘Captain Dejango’ when he took us snorkeling in Port Sudan two years ago and then on a trip to Arkawit. Such a small world! Mohamed (AKA Captain Dejango) wants to build a resort on the Red Sea using the earth bags.

Abeer's grandfather with Aaron

Alia and Reem from AECOM/ USAID/TEPS came out to the site to interview the team and get their views on the project. They reported positive feedback and general optimism and excitement about the project. One of the women reported the project has empowered her and made her realize how much she is capable of doing. We have watched the whole team gain confidence and initiative. The earth-builders from Belgium and Ustaz Hooman are daily demonstrating a great work ethic.