As you may have heard on the news, we have had some flooding in this part of the world recently. I've just come back from a 10 day trip to Northern Ghana, Northern Togo and Southern Burkina - a 3,600km trip of which about half on dirt roads, primarily to look at how the people with disabilities that our partners work with are fairing. Needless to say, many are really suffering and have lost virtually everything - crops, houses, livestock, possessions.
Whilst in Ghana, the main need expressed by a lot of people was to get a roof over their head and so I worked out with our local partners plans for an affordable house build from locally available materials that should be able to withstand heavy rains should the flooding reoccur. Any yes it can be done for £220 / €350 - at least according to our calculations! To make sure I didn't cock-up somewhere, I gave €350 to one of our partners to go ahead and try and build a house to my plans to check that it is feasible. (Excuse my poor attempts at sketchup - I still haven't mastered it :? )
Despite the loss that many have suffered, and the bleak outlook they have, I was once again amazed at the Africans ability to be content with what little they still have - this lady suffers from the effects of polio which has left both her legs withered.
This is what is left of her house:
On a lighter note, if you are planning to build your own workshop how about suggesting to SWMBO that she'd like to help :lol: (snapped from the car in Bawku, Ghana - public roads maintenance :shock: )
Have a good Sunday,
Steve
Whilst in Ghana, the main need expressed by a lot of people was to get a roof over their head and so I worked out with our local partners plans for an affordable house build from locally available materials that should be able to withstand heavy rains should the flooding reoccur. Any yes it can be done for £220 / €350 - at least according to our calculations! To make sure I didn't cock-up somewhere, I gave €350 to one of our partners to go ahead and try and build a house to my plans to check that it is feasible. (Excuse my poor attempts at sketchup - I still haven't mastered it :? )
Despite the loss that many have suffered, and the bleak outlook they have, I was once again amazed at the Africans ability to be content with what little they still have - this lady suffers from the effects of polio which has left both her legs withered.
This is what is left of her house:
On a lighter note, if you are planning to build your own workshop how about suggesting to SWMBO that she'd like to help :lol: (snapped from the car in Bawku, Ghana - public roads maintenance :shock: )
Have a good Sunday,
Steve
