Among many difficulties and some delays, the short-term vocational training project for 50 Ethiopian young people, set up by Harambee, Operation Rescue Ethiopia and the “Nessun Luogo è Lontano” association, is moving ahead with success.
The young people firstly followed a practical training course on how to produce concrete blocks using an automatic machine for blocks, it is very important for the Ethiopian economy that is gradually transforming homes into real concrete houses.
During the two weeks of training (carried out between October and November 2017), given in collaboration with the Mekelle Polytechnic School, the guys experienced the realization of the blocks and the composition of the materials; they gained the skills necessary to make the machines work properly and learnt about producing quality concrete blocks. At the end of the training session the guys were able to independently produce blocks and obtain the certification for their competences.
A local company purchased five automatic machines for the production of concrete blocks to support the project. The machines (total cost of 145.900 ETBs – about 4.400 €) have been scrupulously produced in order to have an efficient power and endurance, and therefore to be able to work well beyond the end of the project.
The most difficult part of the project was to get the approval of the working area from the government, in order to give to the guys a permanent working ground to build bricks and start the business.
However, the decision-making process of the government forced to wait a long time. “After our constant effort to convince governmental authorities,” the Ethiopian project leader writes, “we obtained permission to use the official land for young people. We are also working to speed up the land delivery process “.
For this reason we can say that, despite the efforts, the project has slowed down a bit, due to the procrastination to obtain the land. Nevertheless the following activities – helping the guys to start their own activities with the installation, setting and production process – were then performed with greater speed. A first group of young people has already obtained a working area from the government and the construction of the sheds. The activities are starting to give a lot of satisfaction.
Another group of young people, coming from another city near Macallé, always in the context of the project, has recently obtained an open area of 500 m2 for the installation and implementation of their own business; a shed was built in order to let the guys produce concrete blocks; it has a large semi-open space where the machines will be installed and blocks will be produced and another space for the conservation of raw materials and equipment. The support of the Small and Medium-Sector Manufacturing Industries of the secondary cities facilitated the obtainment of the electricity service.
The companies of concrete blocks require a high quantity of water every day. For this reason it was build a container for water in the ground and two tanks: two more should be completed within a few days. In addition, wooden pallets were purchased, where the newly produced cement blocks will be placed until it becomes stronger.
The biggest challenge that currently hinders the project is the delay in the access to water, which is essential for the mass production of blocks. The city water service office has delayed responding to the request. But now a program has been set up to extend the water pump to those young companies that are starting the realization of the project.
“Now it seems that the expected and unexpected challenges are over. The only thing we are looking for is to get access to water. Once the young people have gained access to water, the project will start the real production ” says the General Manager Operation Rescue Ethiopia Getachew Tesfay Gebru.
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