We decided to build concrete block school buildings instead of local bricks to avoid the deforestation of less abundant trees in northern Uganda. Because bricks need large amounts of wood for their fire. However, we can not do without the local bricks in the initial phase, as explained below.
The concrete blocks require sand, split and concrete. Small sandy deposits run by families, and rocks from which small cooperations are won over Split, are present in the neighborhood. Thus, even these small businesses benefit from the school, which in turn helps that these families can send their children with the money raised to better schools.
The aggregates are transported to the school premises by the Foundation’s own truck from a radius of approx. 20 km for further processing. Larger quantities of concrete are ordered in Kampala and delivered with a semi-trailer. Storage is protected from moisture in our warehouse and in the containers.
To create suitable size fractions of the concrete aggregates and to press the building blocks, a used sand mill and stone press were purchased in Europe and shipped to Uganda. The concrete block production must take place during drying. Therefore, buildings were built for the sand mill and stone press, as well as a drying area for the pellets.
The plants are currently being built and electrically connected and are then ready for the construction of the school building. After completion of the school they should continue to be trained in the construction trade, for example, to support the establishment of charitable institutions such as hospitals and community buildings in neighboring communities.
As mentioned above, we can not do without the use of bricks in the initial phase. The construction work until the start of the concrete block production took place with local bricks. The production of bricks has a long tradition in the country. The required clay is available everywhere. In molds blanks are created, which are stacked after drying to a furnace with a combustion chamber. During the approx. 24-hour burning process, bricks are produced which, however, do not achieve the quality (stability) of the industrial bricks, but can be used without problems for one to two-storey buildings and for the construction of boundary walls. The brick burning is done by families. The fired bricks or just the dried loam briquettes are used for their own needs in the construction of traditional round houses. still the most common building form in the country. In some cases, neighbors call us before the start of the next school year, asking them if we can buy them a few “truckloads” of bricks to pay for their children’s school fees. If we need it, we like to do it. In this way, the foundation also indirectly supports the families in the neighborhood by purchasing the bricks. if we can not buy them some “trips” (truckloads) bricks to pay for their children’s school fees. If we need it, we like to do it. In this way, the foundation also indirectly supports the families in the neighborhood by purchasing the bricks. if we can not buy them some “trips” (truckloads) bricks to pay for their children’s school fees. If we need it, we like to do it. In this way, the foundation also indirectly supports the families in the neighborhood by purchasing the bricks.
For a boarding school is a fixed boundary of the school area prescribed so as not to interfere with the operation of the school, to keep out intruders, especially during the night time and of course to prevent the depredation of children. Since the local bricks are well suited for boundary walls. We will need these stones for a while longer and support our neighbors by acquiring stones.
What do building materials cost in Uganda?
All building materials are very expensive. A bag of cement (50 kg) costs about 10 EUR For this value you get in Germany twice the amount (4 bags a 25 kg). No one has yet been able to provide an explanation for this high price. Consultation with a good acquaintance in Europe showed that these prices are customary in East Africa, and not so high for us.
