introduction to housing & hazards group

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Dhaka Workshop January 2011www.HousingandHazards.org Slide

Communicating Technologies at the grass-roots

Dr Robert HodgsonHousing & Hazards Group

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Housing & Hazards has been looking at ways of communicating better technologies for 15 years.

Housing development is an issue that affects everyone from the end-user to the decision-makers in Dhaka – different approaches are needed for different stakeholders.

This talk looks at some of the issues we have encountered through Action-Research at village level in Bangladesh.

Some issues may not be relevant now but could be borne in mind if resistance to innovation is encountered.

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Constraints on technology transfer

Other things to do

No security of tenure

Many hazards – benefits may seem marginal

No extra money right now

No access to knowledge

No one listens to me!

I really want a pukka house

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Acceptable innovations need to be

Appropriate

Accessible

Available

Affordable

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Demo houses spread the word

But must be accessible and used

Some people didn't relate to this one – it was too big

This one will be maintained

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Graphics and script in a low-literacy environment

Probably not the issue it was 20 years ago but worth checking:

Cartoons are sometimes hard to understand if you are not familiar with the 'conventions'

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Perspective is important -Size matters!

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Is it really women's work?

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Effectiveness of different modes of learningAfter Ian Davis, 1996

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Location Sand/

Silt%

Clay%

Stabilisation process

Dinajpur >80 <20 3-5% cement

Manikganj >60 <40 5% cement

Gopalganj <20 >80 8-9% cement + 20% sand

Cement stabilisation

Soils mapped.

Initial experiments made to determine cement content required

Areas bordering the Bay of Bengalmay be difficult – look for sandy soils

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A simple soil test

To assess clay contentusing glass of water

Visual – helps remember

Best to get people to do it themselves.

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Need to include everyone

Artisans Householders Trainers

Opportunities for other skills training

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Aspirations of modernity

Some of UK's former country hovels are now its most sought after homes

Good to see that building with mud is starting in Dhaka!

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How do we really help people help themselves?

Introducing Bert

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Conclusions

Demo houses must be used

Make activities both interactive and repetetive

Involve everyone

Test all graphics

Real choices mean real work (for us).

introduction to housing & hazards group

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