Construction of the Alivera Village
Great progress at Rwanda Action's exciting new development
After several years of planning, generous support from funders and the valuable time of architects and engineers given freely, we can finally see the Alivera Village taking shape. The lockdown has meant building materials are difficult to buy and we delayed the brickwork until good quality bricks could be sourced. We have also had to work around the rainy season and the earthquakes caused by the eruption of Mount Nyirabongo, but we are back on track!
The Alivera Village is being built adjacent to the Alivera Centre in Ntendezi. It will include workshops, a cafe and shops where young people with disabilities will be able to gain work experience and skills. There will be two residential blocks to house 32 young people, who will each stay for up to two years, until they are ready to find employment, join a co-operative or start their own enterprises.
The site being cleared and levelled.
The foundations for the cafe building and ventilation blocks being made on site.
Foundations of one of the residential blocks on land adjacent to the Alivera Centre, where younger children with disabilities stay during school term time.
The good bricks finally arrived!
Theodore is one of the Alivera Centre deaf graduates who is working on the construction.
Construction of the ramp to provide disabled access between the two residential blocks and workshops.
We hope that the next phase of construction will run smoothly, as we start to think about internal fittings and fixtures and the landscaping of the site. The plan is to create beautiful gardens, planted with local species, especially around the cafe seating area. This exciting project will make a huge difference to those disabled young people who really struggle to find employment when they leave school. It has been made possible by the amazing generosity of our supporters who gave their encouragement, skills and financial support. Lockdown delayed the development, but the employment on the construction site could not be more appreciated, as local people recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic.