Saturday, January 29, 2011

Cement blocks in Kenya!!!!!

     Here at the site, there is an ongoing project to build a block security wall completely around the orphanage facility (appoximately 3 acres).  After the last election (2007), there was chaos in the country.  The dispute over the outcome of the election stemmed from old tribal conflicts.  People went crazy - burned homes, churches, businesses, transport trucks, railways, national park lands, schools, orphanages.  People had thier heads cut off and put on stakes.  Buses were stopped and people were robbed.  Just craziness.  National elections are scheduled again for this November. Hence, the wall. 
     In Kenya you don't just order 500 cement or cinder blocks to do the project. First you call a company to deliver rough stones that have been carved out of a rock quarry by hand. Then the truck delivers them to the job site where they are unloaded by hand. At this time you hire two local "rock shapers" who spend many hours forming them into usable somewhat square blocks, see photo.

     They are laid out on the ground to make sure they fit properly before cemented into the wall. It cost about $21.00 USD to run one linear foot of wall.

No comments:

Post a Comment