On the Road to Nairobi
Progress on the Owiti Children's Home And Medical Centre
November 11, 2003
by Kris Garrison
photos courtesy World Youth International
Monolithic Domes and EcoShells will soon be making a difference in the lives of orphans in Nyamasaria, Kenya. The Owiti Children's Home and Medical Center, operated by World Youth International (WYI), will open its doors sometime in 2004 and be "home" to over 50 young children. The community of Nyamasaria is situated 20 minutes south of Kisumu on the road to Nairobi in Kenya.
The planning team has been working overtime to ensure that all is ready for the construction of the first of four Monolithic Domes in Kenya. Mr. Ken Boyce, a dome builder has devoted many months of his life to the planning and design of the home. Ken will be working in conjunction with local engineers and surveyors and training them in the methods of EcoShell technology construction.
At this time the following domes are complete:
- A 20-foot EcoShell, painted in a rustic color with a white top, will be utilized as the kitchen.
- Two 40-foot EcoShells for the boys' and girls' dormitories. Each dome will hold approximately 25 children and allow allow ample living and studying space.
- Linking the accommodation domes will be an eco-friendly toilet and shower, block fenced off for nighttime security.
- The whole compound has been fenced and has an impressive concrete entrance also painted in the rustic and white colors.
Painting, laying out the grounds, supplying water to the site through the digging of a bore, rain water tanks, guard house, tool shed and fitting out the home for the children are yet to be completed.
Just 500 yards further down the road, WYI is also constructing a 40-foot dome which will be used as The House of Healing Medical Clinic.
Ralph Hoey, WYI Director, said, "Labor is cheap, but material costs are about the same price as America and Australia and in some instances dearer. We are now at the stage where we have almost run out of money which means work will have to stop until more funds can be raised next year... I believe we need a further $30,000 to complete the project."
Volunteer teams will be initiating several different income generating projects and will include: A posho mill (designed to ground corn into Maze - a fine powder), a large poultry farm and permiculture project, several agricultural projects, a carpentry factory and a dressmaking shop and factory. These ongoing projects will allow the facility to remain operational.
Deb Merchant, Patron of Owiti Children's Home speaks emotionally of the home's opening, "The opening of the home will be a very emotional time for us all -- seeing our vision finally come to fruition. The hard work and endless commitment from our volunteers will soon be all worth it. I have been dreaming for months now about the first night the home is open. To be able to put each child to bed, tuck them in and wish them a good nights sleep knowing they are finally safe and content as they rest with a full belly."
Ralph Hoey said that when their work is complete they will have made a huge impact for the better on the lives of the people within the community and the many orphan children in this regions who have lost their parents through the HIV/AIDS virus.
If you would like to learn more about this project, visit World Youth International.
To make a donation, click on the payment section on the homepage and this will bring up donations via credit card. Alternatively telegraphic transfers can be made into our Bank Trust Account. For account information contact wyi@worldyouth.com.au.
Related Links:
- Owiti Children's Home Gives Hope to Very Needy Children in Kenya
- Solid House Foundation
- Helping the Poorest of the Poor-- Ecoshells in Haiti
- EcoShells Solve World Housing Problems
- EcoShells Round the Corner
- New Oroville - A High-tech City in India
- The First Monolithic Dome Town
- Monolithic Seeks Sponsors for Developing Countries Housing Projects
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