Simon Tigawalan dreamed of doing something about earth floors in his little house, blaming them for the creation of his family sick. But in a rural area in one of the world’s poorest countries, making them a concrete concrete simply out of reach.
Then his company called Earth called to offer an alternative: the earthen earthen under which he could give him a durable, sealed floor for less than half of the concrete. Tigawalana now has a new floor in two rooms and hopes to add it soon in the back room.
“I am happy to have a decent home now and can comfortably host visitors,” Tigawalana said, an 56-year-old father of 16 years. “Since we have a clay pok, my kids no longer get a cough and flu coming from dust raised during non-commissioned officers.”
Earthy, who seeks to upgrade housing over AfricaPromotes and installs clay-based floors in Uganda since 2017. years. In addition to eliminating dust that can irritate breathing, they are attributed to a reduction in spine infestation – a parasitic flea that can be buried in the skin and lead to pain, itching and infection. Uganda’s Ministry of Health says that bad hygiene contributes to such infestations due to dirt floors.
“Our floors help prevent pathogens and other diseases related to dust floors, because most of these families cannot afford hospital care,” said Noeline Mutesi, sales and marketing manager for earthy and marketing manager.
How are the floors constructed
The first step in building a hole and straightens the surface. Then Murram – locally red ground rich in iron and aluminum oxides – mixed with sand and water, then compacted. After two weeks of drying, the Masons use wooden sails for smooth and additional compact surfaces. Then gland: application of fine clay screed for additional smooth for surface leveling and prepare it for the final sealant, lanal-lanal-varnish based on a durable plastic resin.
The typical floor costs about 240,000 Uganda Shillings (about $ 65), which countries says that about 70% cheaper than concrete. Customers can pay in installments. Earth, American non-profit, acts for profit branches in Uganda, Rwanda and Kenyaand says that any profit is invested in the cost of starting in new markets, as well as research and development.
Lumorous said that about 5,000 floors in Uganda, more than 39,000 in Rwanda and more than 100 in Kenya were installed. The company also works for wall plastering to reduce the reduction of dust, moisture and insect insects common in mud houses.
In JinjaThe company’s program employs more than 100 Masons from the community. Many are in a disadvantage left to leave school because they cannot afford fees, said Alex Wanda, a civil servant in the company.
“We focus on the use of these young village boys we train in skills to build these earth floors, creating such opportunities for employment,” Wanda said in an interview.
About 42% of Ugandana live in extreme poverty. His statistical bureau says the country has a residential deficit of 2.6 million units, and it is growing. The country must add 300,000 housing units a year to make a deficit, mainly in rural areas, where many urands live and where housing and availability remain any concerns.
More sustainable floors of concrete
The company also endures clay floors as a sustainable alternative to concrete, which except that more expensive creates large carbon emissions in production.
The cement industry is one of the largest Uganda contributions to carbon emissions, making about 628,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2023, its highest recorded level. General, construction and construction accounts for 37% of global emissions, according to the United Nations Environment.
Uganda, as much of the rest of the world, saw an increase in extreme weather events made more likely to climate change, including flood and extended drought.
“Such initiatives are crucial in the global effort for the ubing of the construction sector,” said the Penina Atwine, a program officer in environmental equipment in Uganda. “Such innovative local solutions dealing with climate change and social needs such as the member model can inspire similar approaches around the world.”
‘Live a better life’ with a cleaner floor
In the village of Budima, Rehema Namukose spent most of your family’s savings to build a house. You couldn’t afford cleaner under until she worked through the earthy to pay for a clay floor in installments. She lives there with her three children and credits a new floor to improve the health of the sick daughter.
“This is affordable for my family and will help us keep hygiene,” she says, “now we live a better life.”
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