Makana II Village Housing Project
Fuller Center for Housing
EMI Project 5461
Late March to early April (1-1/2 week trip), 2008
Original Project Scope
The Fuller Center for Housing, begun in 2005 by Habitat for Humanity founder Millard Fuller, promotes collaborative partnerships around the world to provide adequate shelter for the world's poor. For this project in Makana, they are partnering with the Christian and Missionary Alliance (CM&A) and the International Partnership for Human Development (IPHD). Makana is located near Brazzaville, has suffered greatly during Congo's civil wars, and is very poor and not developing.
This project will focus on a master plan for the development of a new village with housing and infrastructure in order to meet the basic needs of shelter, potable water, and sanitation. The master plan needs to accommodate the layout of homes, connecting pathways, community development, and utilities infrastructure. The government just finished the major paved road that now runs through the center of the village. There is currently no potable water in this village. People have to walk 2 km to get water, so the design of a water supply system for the village has been made a high priority. There is no power in the village, so it must be designed with this in mind.
Currently, the village is scattered along both sides of this new highway road. Most of the houses were either destroyed in past conflicts or have run down over time, or will be destroyed due to the government widening the highway. The government has created a new set back of 25 meters. The village currently consists of about 50 families. IPHD has already been working in this village. New school facilities were built a short time ago. The village is to be redesigned for the new housing project. Therefore, the need for an accurate survey is critical in order to lay out the new housing plots, create a village community, and provide for new utility infrastructure. The highway itself is very dangerous for the village, so alternate routes (walking paths) are needed throughout.
About the travel:
Brazzaville is very small and difficult to get to, and is very similar to the rest of sub-Saharan Africa. Visas will be required - team members must have a current passport with at least 6 months of time till expiration. Yellow fever immunizations are required, and most others are highly recommended, including meningitis, hepatitis, polio boosters, and tetanus immunizations, and anti-malaria medication. We will need bug spray with DEET, boots, and rain jackets. We will sleep under mosquito nets, but should be in relatively comfortable housing. People coming to Congo need to be in relatively good health. There is no major medical care facility there. There is only a small clinic with limited capabilities.
Anything technical that we need we must bring. However, internet access is readily available thanks to a satellite company in town. Brazzaville is very safe. We are told that the people there are so tired of war that they stay to themselves. We at EMI are finding that post-war years provide some of the greatest opportunities to offer healing and reconciliation, from West Africa to East Africa and all across the world. What a great chance to demonstrate hearts of compassion, love, and service!
Contact
Gary MacPhee
