Mulyezi village access earth road
Summary
Roads are an integral part of the transport system. The road network in Mulyezi comprised mostly of footpaths which kept the population out of contact with several developmental activities. To maximize economic and social benefits, DAMRA found it fundamental to work with the communities of Mulyezi and other relevant authorities. Mulyezi, like the rest of Malawi, is predominantly Christian with a small Muslim minority. A lesser percentage can also be classified as animists or following traditional belief systems.
Project Location
Mulyezi, Rumphi.
Goal
Construct 5km stretch earth road
Indicators
5KM stretch earth road constructed
Background
The road project is located within Rumphi District of Northern Malawi approximately 450 Km from the Capital city Lilongwe and 100 km away from Mzuzu city, the third largest city in Malawi. The 5 km stretch earth road was be linked to the Great North Road (M1) that links Malawi to Tanzania at Lukuru Bridge (see the sketch map below). The new road branches off M1 road at the Lukuru bridge and extend all the way to Mulyezi primary school, a remote community living in the upper reaches of Mbale Hills. Mulyezi is therefore quite close to the Great North Road but the terrain of the area- a hilly terrain and small seasonal streams that traverse the landscape without permanent bridging structures- has relegated this community to underdevelopment.
Initial Situation
People in Mulyezi were using a foot path that went along the surveyed earth road that the proposed project has constructed. Transport was however difficult during the rainy season when some of the makeshift log bridges are washed away by flash floods. Foot paths used are rendered impassable during the rainy season. Women and school going children bare the brunt on their daily trips to the maize mill, market, hospital and school.
Overall Objective
o Promote socioeconomic status of Mulyezi through easier movement of goods and services.
o Enhance the investment opportunities within Mulyezi.
o Strengthen EGP-DAMRA partnership through inter-cultural sharing and learning among the community and the EGP volunteers.
Target group
The population in Mulyezi which is currently estimated at 2, 500 and rapidly increasing because of its young population with majority of inhabitants aged below 24 years. All inhabitants are benefiting from the road constructed.
Project Plan
The construction of road took place during the dry season (summer) between May and October. Materials and equipment were transported on wheel barrows and volunteer porters (on heads and shoulders) from the community to designated construction points. It was interesting to see the EGP volunteers having the ‘balancing act’ of a bucket of sand on the head, a popular mode of transport and an art so well perfected in Malawi. In this part of Malawi communal labor, where community members come to assist each other on farms or building a house, is well established. The project harnessed this spirit of working together towards constructing the road and being the dry season, farmers were not too busy on their farms.
10 EGP volunteers, 4 new DAMRA Staff members and 6 selected community representatives making a total of 20 participants benefited from the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) Training. DAMRA new staff had an opportunity to buttress the new staff not only on PRA skills but in gender and HIV mainstreaming competencies which are much needed in the wider community outreach activities that the organization was serving.
Earth Works
Earthworks i.e. excavation and flattening of the road was done by the community before arrival of the volunteers. This phase of implementation was supervised by the District Senior Roads Supervisor with the assistance of the Community Roads Committee. By design, this is meant to fast-track the implementation process to allow the completion of the road within the stipulated two months that the EGP volunteers are allowed. The expectations and goals were all met on time.
Form Works
Form works constituted mobilizing materials, equipment and labor towards the construction of:
1) Eight culvert lines of 600 mm diameter concrete pipes (rings)
2) Six culvert lines of 900 mm diameter concrete pipes.
3) One double box culvert
4) 10 meter long concrete drift laid on masonry work.
By large, this is the phase that required the input from EGP volunteers. Working together with the District Senior Roads Supervisor and DAMRA project management team, the EGP volunteers were involved in purchasing of materials and equipment, transportation of materials to the site as well as helping in the actual laying and construction.
People in Mulyezi were using a foot path that went along the surveyed earth road that the proposed project has constructed. Transport was however difficult during the rainy season when some of the makeshift log bridges are washed away by flash floods. Foot paths used are rendered impassable during the rainy season. Women and school going children bare the brunt on their daily trips to the maize mill, market, hospital and school.
Overall Objective
o Promote socioeconomic status of Mulyezi through easier movement of goods and services.
o Enhance the investment opportunities within Mulyezi.
o Strengthen EGP-DAMRA partnership through inter-cultural sharing and learning among the community and the EGP volunteers.
Target group
The population in Mulyezi which is currently estimated at 2, 500 and rapidly increasing because of its young population with majority of inhabitants aged below 24 years. All inhabitants are benefiting from the road constructed.
Project Plan
The construction of road took place during the dry season (summer) between May and October. Materials and equipment were transported on wheel barrows and volunteer porters (on heads and shoulders) from the community to designated construction points. It was interesting to see the EGP volunteers having the ‘balancing act’ of a bucket of sand on the head, a popular mode of transport and an art so well perfected in Malawi. In this part of Malawi communal labor, where community members come to assist each other on farms or building a house, is well established. The project harnessed this spirit of working together towards constructing the road and being the dry season, farmers were not too busy on their farms.
10 EGP volunteers, 4 new DAMRA Staff members and 6 selected community representatives making a total of 20 participants benefited from the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) Training. DAMRA new staff had an opportunity to buttress the new staff not only on PRA skills but in gender and HIV mainstreaming competencies which are much needed in the wider community outreach activities that the organization was serving.
Earth Works
Earthworks i.e. excavation and flattening of the road was done by the community before arrival of the volunteers. This phase of implementation was supervised by the District Senior Roads Supervisor with the assistance of the Community Roads Committee. By design, this is meant to fast-track the implementation process to allow the completion of the road within the stipulated two months that the EGP volunteers are allowed. The expectations and goals were all met on time.
Form Works
Form works constituted mobilizing materials, equipment and labor towards the construction of:
1) Eight culvert lines of 600 mm diameter concrete pipes (rings)
2) Six culvert lines of 900 mm diameter concrete pipes.
3) One double box culvert
4) 10 meter long concrete drift laid on masonry work.
By large, this is the phase that required the input from EGP volunteers. Working together with the District Senior Roads Supervisor and DAMRA project management team, the EGP volunteers were involved in purchasing of materials and equipment, transportation of materials to the site as well as helping in the actual laying and construction.