ISAH Workshop: Community Build with Sandbag Building Technology (27 November 2024)

Date: 27 November 2024

Location: 669, Weltervreden Road, Philippi, Cape Town, South Africa

Overview

As part of the final phase of the REng project, a special hands-on workshop was conducted on 5 September 2024. This event focused on equipping local builders from informal settlements with the practical skills to construct sandbag homes—an innovative, cost-effective, and sustainable building solution.

The workshop combined technical training with community-driven collaboration to explore how sandbag building technology can address housing challenges while promoting sustainability and resilience.

About the Workshop

Focus on Sandbag Building Technology

Sandbag construction is a sustainable building method that uses locally available materials, providing:

• Affordability: Lower construction costs compared to conventional materials.

• Durability: Sandbag walls offer excellent thermal insulation and resistance to harsh weather conditions.

• Eco-Friendliness: The method reduces reliance on high-carbon materials like cement, contributing to a greener future.

Workshop Objectives

1. Hands-On Training: Teach local builders’ practical techniques for constructing sandbag homes, ensuring durability and efficiency.

2. Promote Sustainable Housing Solutions: Showcase how sandbag technology can address the challenges of informal housing.

3. Empower Local Builders: Equip participants with skills to adopt innovative, affordable construction methods that can be implemented in their communities.

4. Foster Community Engagement: Demonstrate the potential of community-driven construction projects to improve housing conditions in informal settlements.

Workshop Highlights

1. Introduction to Sandbag Construction

   • Experts explained the basics of sandbag building, including its environmental and economic benefits.

   • Participants learned about the materials required, site preparation, and the step-by-step process of assembling sandbag walls.

2. Practical Training Sessions

   • Attendees engaged in building a demonstration home using sandbag technology.

   • Activities included filling sandbags, layering them to form the foundation, walls, and roof.

   • Builders also practiced openings for installing doors, windows, and roofing to complete the structure.

3. Community Collaboration

   • Local builders worked together, sharing their experiences and insights from informal housing construction.

   • This collaborative environment fostered a sense of ownership and pride in building sustainable homes for their communities.

4. Discussion on Applications in Informal Settlements

   • Participants explored how sandbag construction could be scaled for larger housing projects.

   • Challenges such as material accessibility and community acceptance were discussed, along with potential solutions.

Key Outcomes:

1. Skill Development: Local builders gained valuable hands-on experience in constructing sandbag homes, empowering them to replicate the process in their own communities.

2. Increased Awareness of ABTs: The workshop highlighted the potential of alternative building technologies (ABTs) like sandbag construction to provide affordable and sustainable housing solutions.

3. Scalable Solutions: The demonstration project served as a proof of concept for using sandbag technology in informal settlements, inspiring participants to consider it for future housing projects.

4. Community Impact: By involving local builders, the workshop strengthened community ties and demonstrated how grassroots efforts can drive meaningful change in addressing housing challenges.

Looking Ahead

This hands-on workshop reinforced the importance of practical training and community engagement in promoting sustainable housing solutions. By introducing sandbag building technology to local builders, we took a significant step toward empowering communities to adopt innovative construction practices.

As we continue to explore alternative building technologies, our focus remains on providing solutions that are not only affordable and sustainable but also adaptable to the unique needs of informal settlements. The success of this workshop underscores the value of combining technical expertise with community collaboration to address the global housing crisis.

Snapshots of Sandbag Construction Training