Tropentag, October 11 - 13, 2006 in Bonn "Prosperity and Poverty in a Globalized World – Challenges for Agricultural Research"

Improved Technology for the Construction of Healthy and Secure Houses in Rural Areas of the Peruvian Andes

¹Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Institute of Rural Development, Germany
²Ngo Alternativa

Abstract

This paper presents a Peruvian project titled: “Training and Diffusion of Improved Adobe(1) Technology for the construction of Healthy and Secure Houses”. This project was developed by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in cooperation with the Peruvian NGO Alternativa and the Peruvian governmental institution SENCICO.

As Peru is a developing country where earthquakes frequently occur, a huge impact of this project has to be expected. The selected rural areas were Lunahuana, Pacaran and Viñac which are located in the southern part of Peru. In those areas, where most of the people live in poverty, the principal activities are agriculture and livestock farming.

The aim of this project is to train and motivate local people in construction of adobe houses using an improved technology, which increase the houses' resistance to earthquakes and, as a result, improve living conditions. As health is a core issue of the project, other aspects such as construction of improved stoves and adequate management of human depositions and water, were considered as well.

Participatory methodology was used during the elaboration of the houses' prototype. Two theoretical and practical courses about improved stoves were carried out, as well as, many sessions about the use of these stoves, management of human excrements and water.

To date, 20 people are trained during two months. They were involved in the construction of two houses in Pacaran and one house is under construction in Lunahuana. Another house will be constructed in Viñac during this year. Also, two improved kitchens were constructed in Pacaran and Lunahuana. Besides that, more than 150 habitants of Pacaran, Lunahuana and near shanty towns participated in the sessions described above. As a result of that, they learned about the importance of using improved adobe technology, the health hazards of smoke generated by traditional cooking technologies in their kitchens and the necessity to manage human excrements and water. The total impact of this project will be assessed at the end of 2007.

1 Adobe is an unburnt sun-dried brick.

Keywords: Adobe technology, healthy and secure rural houses, improved stoves, Peru

Contact Address: Teresa Rojas, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Institute of Rural Development, Werrastr. 36, 12059 Berlin, Germany, e-mail: terojaslarahotmail.com