In the region within which the charity operates is a village called Bucence with a population of approximately 1000 people of which about 120 are orphan children most of whom are either homeless or living in poverty conditions. The charity has a project to build a total of 20 houses to house these children. Each house will provide a home for 6 children and a live in carer. It is also hoped that this system will keep orphan siblings together as a family.

It is reputed that the average life expectancy in rural Uganda is 42 years. The causes for this very low figure being such things as malnutrition, poor water and sanitation and disease (mainly malaria, aids and respiratory problems due to poor housing conditions). One of the inevitable consequences of such a short life expectancy is the number of orphan children in Uganda.

The village of Bucenci where the charity has its house building program has approximately 120 or so orphans in a population of 1000.

 The houses that are built by the charity are constructed partly by local unskilled volunteer labour and partly by skilled local builders. The materials used comprise locally felled timber and papyrus reeds and purchased materials are corrugated iron sheets for roofing, nails and cement and sand. Windows and doors are made by local carpenters.

The construction is simple but effective and in keeping with local custom. The site is cleared by hand, a concrete platform base is laid and the walls are built of timber interlaced with papyrus reeds which are then plastered. The roof is corrugated iron and doors, window frames and shutters are of wood. The finished house provides three bedrooms and a family room and is sufficient to house six children with an adult carer.

When built this type of construction has a useful life of about 40 years.

 Two of the main components of the house are cement (which carries a heavy tax in Uganda) and the corrugated iron roof and these two items alone account for 40% of the cost of construction. With this fact in mind the charity is constantly exploring the possibility of alternative construction and is currently investigating the feasibility of building with a sectional timber construction which would have the advantage of a lower cost (the local church diocese have offered free timber from their land) and speed of construction.

Watch this space for developments!