Housing Project

Housing is a public health necessity. A secure home, not sleeping on a muddy floor, doors and windows are all low level interventions that prevent health care risks. The world Health Organization estimates that for every US dollar invested, benefits can, on average, be valued at nine times as much.  The community health care project of UJAMMA has been working with Health Development-Rwanda (HDI) to improve the health and living standards of the B’twa village.

In 2008, During UJAMAA’s first visit, health insurance cards were purchased for all individuals in the community. In 2009, a ground water well was built (see well project) to help provide clean drinking water. HDI, with input from Chief Kalimba of the B’twa village, have determined that housing is the next priority. HDI and UJAMAA have developed a collaborative project, INOKE (home) to provide housing for everyone in the village.  The project incorporates local people, trained masons from the village, and local supplies.

Building homes for the B’twa community is much more than a gift. The project helps the village learn to build their own house and in the process employees villagers trained in masonry to coordinate the project.  Each family will have to produce sufficient bricks from hard-won clay and water. No one gets a house without supplying enough bricks to commence construction.

At this point, your donation is used to complete a home.  Each home costs $500. This covers the cost of the materials and hiring local Rwandans. The mason is employed to coordinate the project. All doors and windows are manufactured in country.  Materials must be delivered to the site by Rwandan drivers.  The village workforce is receiving vocational training while building their homes.  Each home consists of the bricks, a door, roof, 4 windows and a floor.  Forty- seven homes would allow everyone in the village to live in a dry, clean environment away from the elements.