| Would you like to know how we are saving tonnes | | | | forest cover." The adoption of this technology will |
| of trees with every classroom we build? We not only | | | | dramatically reduce this environmental damage. |
| looking out for education but also looking after the | | | | We have been looking at these machines for the |
| Ugandan environment and keeping it green as we | | | | past 6 years and today we are finally taking delivery |
| go.Thanks to some incredible fundraising from | | | | of two machines. The new machines make blocks |
| supporters Melinda and Steve Robinson from | | | | from a specific soil called murram, cement and water. |
| Australia, we have just purchased two new | | | | It takes 2 people to operate and can produce 300 |
| Interlocking Stabilized Soil Block Machine (ISSB). In | | | | – 400 blocks in an 8 hour day. On top of all that |
| simple terms, a manual brick making machine, which | | | | they are also interlocking which saves on cement |
| will help with all of the building projects that we are | | | | costs in between bricks. Several teams of Soft |
| involved in. | | | | Power Builders have been trained in the process in |
| Traditional methods of brick making in Uganda | | | | association with The Haileybury Youth Trust. |
| comprise of taking a clay based mud and making a | | | | The benefits of the ISSB bricks: |
| square block by hand, they are approximately the | | | | 1.The making of 3000 ISSB blocks will save 10 tonnes |
| same size as any other brick elsewhere in the world. | | | | of trees. |
| The problem is that because they are made by hand | | | | 2.The blocks do not need to be fired |
| they are not a consistent shape, and they come in a | | | | 3.Cost saving because of less time needed to make |
| variety of sizes. After making the brick they are then | | | | them. |
| put into a pyramid stack with a gap in the middle | | | | 4.Only one bag of cement is needed to make 150 |
| where a fire is lit, they cover the top with banana | | | | blocks. (cement is incredibly expensive in Uganda) |
| leaves and dry grass (a handmade Kiln process). The | | | | 5.They are double the size of a normal fired brick so |
| bricks are then fired for 96 hours - constantly | | | | you only need to use half the number of bricks. |
| keeping the fire burning with wood, and are left to | | | | 6.There is no mortar needed between the bricks |
| cool for 4 days. The bricks are then stored for 4 | | | | because of the interlocking system, so mortar is only |
| – 6 months before they are used. | | | | needed on top and bottom of the brick. |
| This whole process is: | | | | 7.Uniformed shape for every brick, which uses less |
| 1. Labour intensive, | | | | mortar and render – saves up to 50% compared |
| 2. Bad for the environment because of the amount | | | | to using fired bricks. |
| of wood needed to ‘cook' the bricks, | | | | 8.Are weather resistant and can be used in the |
| 3. Makes the building process longer and more | | | | construction of septic and water tanks. (There is a |
| expensive as the builders use more cement for | | | | curved ISSB machine which can make curved bricks |
| mortar and rendering because of the imperfections | | | | for water tanks) |
| of the bricks. | | | | 9.The bricks are manufactured on site, saving |
| The new ISSB machine is an old technology that | | | | transportation and damage. |
| originated in France over 800 years ago. Kenya over | | | | 10.Bricks are used 4 hours after making them, |
| the past 25 years have redeveloped the system | | | | therefore construction can continue as the bricks are |
| because the Government has banned the cutting of | | | | being made. |
| timber to fire bricks the traditional way, knowing | | | | 11.The ISSB system uses Ugandan road base as its |
| what it was doing to the environment. | | | | main ingredient mixed with cement. |
| Since 1991, Dr Moses Musaazi, an engineer at | | | | We will be using this type of brick in all buildings which |
| Makerere University in Kampala, has developed a | | | | made from brick machine and water tanks from now |
| technique which, by mixing soil and cement and then | | | | on. This will make construction costs cheaper and the |
| compressing the dampened mixture in a mould, | | | | buildings and water tanks stronger. The biggest |
| produces an interlocking block (twice the size of a | | | | benefit – all monies fundraised for Soft Power |
| normal brick) that is stronger and more uniformly | | | | Education will now go further!Make sure to check |
| shaped than a conventional brick. | | | | back soon for an update on our new buildings using |
| Dr Musaazi says: "Cutting down trees for firing bricks | | | | the new ISSB technology. |
| is second to charcoal burning in destroying Uganda's | | | | |