The "Outjenaho" association from Ottenhofen is planning its next major project - the construction of two dormitories with 96 beds each, sanitary facilities and one supervisor's room.
Ottenhofen / Otjiyarwa - The association “Outjenaho - radiant children's eyes e. V. ”based in Ottenhofen has been supporting the Morukutu Primary School in Otjiyarwa in Namibia for five years. So far, sanitary facilities have been repaired through purely voluntary work and overnight accommodation has been created through mattress donations. The largest project in 2018 was well construction. As reported, the school grounds have had their own water since then.
Another major project is now on the horizon: the construction of two sleeping houses with 96 beds each, sanitary facilities and one supervisor's room. The project has already been discussed in advance with the school management there, the municipality and the school ministry. For implementation, it is now necessary to specify the plans and clarify the costs.
There is plenty of sand - so why not build with it?
There is plenty of sand in Namibia. So why not use this regionally cheap raw material to make building in desert regions possible and sustainable? Dr. Gerhard Dust, co-founder of the Polycare company, took up a sand concrete idea (polymer concrete) from Gunter Plötner, and together they have further developed and now established it to be ready for the market.
The Outjenaho team Thomas Hameter, Eddy Wilinski and Robert Peszt had already visited a Polycare plant in Windhoek last December and recorded the weather for the school project in Otjiyarwa. Now the management team around Martina Zoglowek and Thomas Hameter were guests at the company's headquarters in Suhl (Thuringia). The planning architect Andreas Schmitt from Erding, Eddy Wilinski and Uli Stiegler were also there. On site, the team was informed about the innovative products and advised on the Morukutu school project.
Helping people help themselves
The current series of sand concrete blocks consists of a mixture of sieved sand and resin with a PS insulation core. This building block can be produced largely without the use of water and is easy to transport due to its relatively low weight. Similar to Lego blocks, these building blocks can be easily assembled and disassembled. For each project, an individual “do-it-yourself kit” including foundation and roof is created and delivered. This system is therefore ideally suited for the school project.
The required bricks could be produced very regionally by Namibian standards, namely in Windhoek, about 400 kilometers away. Regional companies are also used for the windows and doors. After a briefing and professional guidance, the construction of the house could largely be carried out with local helpers. This help for self-help is one of the most important pillars of the school partnership.
Association is dependent on donations
To finance this school project, the Outjenaho team is examining funding opportunities in Namibia and also in Germany and supporting the application. In addition to the funding, you also need your own funds, usually at least ten percent. For this the association is dependent on donations. If you want to help: The donation account at VR-Bank Erding has the IBAN DE36 7016 9605 0007 4277 27. The association assures that 100 percent of the donations will be used for the project work, as the entire association management is volunteer and so far for the administration no cost produced.
“Outjenaho - radiant children's eyes e. V. “was founded five years ago and now has 46 members. As part of a school partnership, the association supports the Morukutu Primary School with more than 400 students. Since then, a three-man volunteer team led by Hameter and Wilinski has been traveling to Otjiyarwa for a week's work every year. Additional visits by the association chairman Zoglowek deepen the partnership.
The association on the net
All information on the association's projects is available online at www.outjenaho.com.
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