Nashetu-E-Maa
Practical Action
Taking an inclusive view of the built environment
Housing technologies cannot be considered in isolation from people’s lives. Project training
needs to be clearly aimed to meet people’s broader needs. Practical Action staff often worked
in partnership with other governmental and non-governmental bodies to cover a variety of
topics highlighted by community members as important priorities. One workshop considered
several issues which enabled the quality of the built environment, that we call home, to be
improved.
House layout and design:
Participants identified the following as key features in an improved house:
• spacious room/large open spaces;
• privacy/separate rooms;
• keeping small livestock out of the house;
• raised beds easy for cleaning;
• dish racks;
• improved jiko (stoves) to ensure less or no smoke;
• firewood storage;
• spiral entrance – a significant feature in traditional ceremonies;
• improved height;
• leak-proof roof;
• kitchen garden;
• free from rodents & vermin;
• rainwater harvesting;
• a clean compound;
• should have large windows;
• waste disposal pits.
Household energy: discussions were held on the type of fuels used and its storage.
Nutrition:
Input by the local government
Health Officer enabled participants to gain an increased understanding of the types of food
currently cooked, their nature – i.e. whether they are ‘building, protective or energy foods’.
The increasing need to generate cash, for example to pay for school fees, means that people
may sell foods such as milk which they would previously have consumed themselves.
Emphasis was given in discussions to the need to continue to provide a balanced diet;
changing life patterns make it important to ensure that people understand the impact on the
traditional diet.
Health education:
Discussions covered a wide range of issues looking at good and bad practices in house
keeping, personal hygiene, cooking etc.
Enterprise development and management:
Community group activities often aim to generate income to support development of
members’ homes and livelihoods: on enquiring how they invested their money the participants
responded that they kept their groups’ money in the bank which they later share equally or
pay to meet their members’ needs. Practical Action staff call on others’ expertise to facilitate
the development of all the necessary skills in house building. Understanding and managing
finances is critical to successful house building which is a significant investment.
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