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Case Study: Venda
A case in point is Gombani Village in Venda, situated
in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Set in the
mountains close to the Zimbabwe border, the village is
so remote that neighbouring villages are barely aware
of its existence.
Traditionally, houses in the community were made
from mud but a decision was taken to use more modern
materials to extend the life of buildings in what can only
be classified as a harsh environment. The idea of using
a Hydraform blockmaking machine appealed because for
the most part the community would still be using its own
soil to build its houses – but the materials would have a
far longer lifespan.
Furthermore, limiting the materials needed to be
acquired from outside was a sensible approach to take
for a village as remote as Gombani. Another benefit of
opting for the Hydraform Building System is that previously
unskilled men and woman could be trained to make blocks
and construct their own houses as well as other buildings
required by the community.
Building
in a
remote area
A constant challenge when it comes to assisting
communities in Africa is remoteness – some
villages are simply a long way off the beaten track.