Nka Foundation announces workshop to build 1st Prize Winner in 4th Earth Architecture Competition

OKLAHOMA CITY - Oct. 11, 2016 - PRLog -- Your presence matters. Together, we will build FRAMED ESCAPE LIBRARY that will become a unit of a community secondary for the rural village of Abetenim in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. In Abetenim, the children do not have local access to secondary school education and must walk prohibitive distances to access the few schools that do exist. The ones who cannot afford boarding school end up quitting school. Illiteracy is not the key. By building a local secondary school, the children of the village and the surrounding communities can continue their education in their hometown.

The master plan of the school has been planned by Nka Foundation along with international volunteers and the people from the village of Abetenim. The purpose of this workshop is to build the school's library with community labor and help from participants from around the world. The construction will involve contemporary building techniques and local methods of construction.

BUILDING THE LIBRARY
The project will be built with community labour, in order to have a great exchange of skills and knowledge between the local builders and the international volunteers. You'll gain hands-on experience in earth-hand-made-construction and lightweight framing by using local and recycled materials.

The library is already designed, but there many technical solutions still to be resolve when we are in the environment! Together, we will seek the best earth mixture, we will design the details of the furniture and search for the most economical but sustainable way of construction. You will be involved in building the project as much as designing its details.

But it won't be only building with local earth! We will immerse in the local culture and lifestyle, live and work among the local people. You may take part in some of the social events in the everyday life of the community, such as weddings, naming ceremonies and meetings to gain new skills. There will be short breaks from the construction project to participate in field trips to explore the nearby cultural sites such as Bomwire Kente Village, Bobiri Forest Reserve, or the cultural centres in the historic city of Kumasi.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
This is an open call for participation. The workshop will bring together participants from around the world, interested in sustainable design & architecture. You don't need to have any particular knowledge in construction, everyone is welcome!  Students can use the opportunity for internship, thesis or personal research. We encourage participants to stay for as long as possible as this will allow for the greatest involvement in all phases of project.

WHERE?
Abetenim Village, near Kumasi in the rural territories of the ancient Ashanti Region of Ghana.

HOW MUCH?
Food & accommodation 80€/week.  Contribution to material and labour 350€ (cost reduction possible, please contact us). Airfare, vaccination and visa are on your behalf. Accommodation is provided in one of the 9 guesthouses in the village, with running water and electricity. The food would be prepared by a local cook, or by some members of the workshop team who wish to learn Ghanaian cusine.

WORKSHOP LEADERS
Maude Cannat is passionate about architecture heritage and has found in earth architecture a perfect link between traditional and contemporary construction.
Rachel Méau seeks for low impact building techniques through natural or recycled materials and has found in earth great qualities for contemporary architecture.
Both are Architects in France and have already participated and organised workhshops in France and Africa.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND INSCRIPTIONS
mudarchitecture.escape@gmail.com / www.eskaapi.com Tel,  +33 6 78 55 53 93

WORKSHOP ORGANIZER
Nka Foundation… www.nkafoundation.org // info@nkafoundation.org