The building material available locally in Malakal Area

Background:
My research project is an effort to describe the vocational practices in each filed of vocational being practice locally here in Malakal. To improve it and to crate the linkages, between these practice and the Malakal vocational training centre.
Action research can serve as an important means of describe these practices, as well as an approach for the locally people.

Objective:
The objective of my research, I was looking for answers for the following questions
What types of practices are relevant to the local and how to link it with the practices at the Vocational training center?
What are the available material locally? What is the quality of these materials compared with the imported one?
How can the MVTC utilize these opportunities?

Introduction:
Building materials are one of the challenges for Upper Nile State, especially for Malakal people almost since the independence of Sudan 1956. People are importing the building materials from North Sudan, and this cost the state a lot of money to do so. Due to the high cost of the transport of such materials the physical infrastructures is very poor. Almost 80% of the buildings are made of mute and grasses.
In vocational point of view the high cost of the building materials result on the high training cost for the building and bricklayer section. And it may reduce the employment chances for the graduate of this sector, since most of the locally people in the community are unable to buy the building materials like, sand, gravels and bricks.
The above mentioned reasons gives me more energy to carry on the research, and try to find out the availability of the local materials. How can I draw the attention of the local people of find these materials locally.

Research Method:
In my effort to find the answers for my question. And to achieve the real answers for my question. I believe participatory action research is very important means to allow me to talk with the people and spend with them more time discussing these issues.

What are the research tools I used?
1- Participatory Observation: I have been observing with the women beside the river and take notes of their practices. I informed them I want to see how they carry out the work.
2- Record the conversation: I prepared questionnaires for this conversation. I was recording while talking with them.
3- Photos: after I ask permission from them to allow me to take photos while they are working. I took them to reflect on them latter on when I am back.

Data analysis:
The objective of my research, I was looking for answers for the following questions
What types of practices are relevant to the local and how to link it with the practices at the Vocational training center?
What are the available material locally? What is the quality of these materials compared with the imported one?
How can the MVTC utilize these opportunities?

I want along the River Nile to see how the sand and gravel being processed, how is being pack and to see if the quality is accepted by the local builder and contractors. And how the availability of these materials can contribute in training process at the MVTC.

This interview show that, the building materials like sand, gravel and blocks can be obtained locally with a reasonable price, compared with, the building materials being imported form outside Upper Nile State. Even though the quality is poor but it can be improved. As one of the builder mentioned that. The quality of the sand depends on the process. If the processor clean it will they can obtain a good quality relative the same like the one from Kosti. But the local people who are engaged in this business. Some of them they are doing it for economic propose. May be if their economic situation improve by any reason they may not continue doing these work any more. Because of this also the production is very low. For example the young boys in the above page if they get the money for the school and the cloth they may not come again for the business, unless if they are in need again.

The women are having limited access to the sand in the river, the same to the young boys. They can not go deep into the river. Deep you go into the river more you get the clear sand.

I think, there should be in future and means for getting the sand for the river using the modern technology if the local people, the investors pay their attention in these work. To increase the production of sand and gravel.

Another good example I found is the building materials seller Mr. Deng, he sees the business opportunity on not only selling the sand only as a raw material. But transferring it into a useful product. By doing so he created employment and contribute for the availability of the building materials locally. He is a good example for other trader to follow him.

For me I see many opportunities for the local vocational training centre. But I prefer to put it inform of questions:
1- Those people practicing this trade, sand processing, can they be give a training that can help to make a good treatment for the sand, to remove the clay elements from the sand?
2- Is it possible for the Malakal Vocational Training Centre (MVTC) welding and machine shop department to produce wheelbarrow to help these people in transporting the sand from the river to where they dry it?
3- Is the MVTC ready to organize training program for short course in block making?
4- How can the VTC make the link between what is being practice out side with what they are doing?
As I mentioned in the beginning my questions have been answered. But more questions come out as mentioned in the last four questions.

For more photos please click this link
http://picasaweb.google.com/danielrubenateng/Datacollectionmtc