Setting out and digging of foundations - A house for a victim, Ntrama, Rwanda

setting out foundation lines, 500mm gaps, getting them square proved tricky with slope

existing build wattle and daub, with a very strong clay earth mix that feels like rock, timber structure on left is a kitchen in the making

view from top of site across site down to Nymata in the valley

looking north across site and slope to ridge peak in back ground, the ridge is a great source of stone which is quarried and sold for building foundations and retain gin walls across Rwanda

digging foundations has begun

this pick tool is incredibly useful as a pick and a spade

rain clouds coming, winds pick up, cloud gets thick, humidity rises and light levels drop suddenly, in the space of 10 minutes the storm hits

hiding from the rain, a young woman sells me sour gum wine, which is sweet, thick, very strong and grainy.

sheltering in the existing wattle and daub building the rain beats down deathenly on the roof, with the occasion drip from the nail wholes in the corrugated iron sheets

wattle and daub house after rain, soil around house is wet and turns to mud very quickly, walls are damp and wet but no notable decay after one storm.

the group gathers for discussion after the rain has pass, its lunch time and they are cold and damp, Rwandan's hate the rain, there is little work that can be down on empty stomach in wet conditions, so we plan next building phases. 

lots of discussion about materials, costs, timing and sourcing of materials. A little be different to construction meeting i've been to in the UK.

left to right: paid local builder, ex prisoner, Patrick volunteer KIST architecure student, home owner, Enock volunteer KIST architecture student. They are discussing a drawing i did and debating the room sizes.