Amanzi Layita, water light in Xhosa, is a project aimed at providing affordable and safe daily light sources to the residents of Khayelitsha, South Africa to increase the accessibility of indoor space. This will be accomplished through the implementation of solar bottle bulbs in both homes and businesses beginning in the QQ Section of the township.
Tuesday, 22 November 2011
A Focus on Gender
Incorporating an equitable hiring process that considers hiring female workers for traditionally male dominated construction work opportunities that they would normally be excluded from
Give women and men equal opportunity to voice their opinions throughout the project, and consider these opinions
We will conduct focus groups of homogeneous and heterogeneous people of 4-6 members in each group. The mix of groups will include a male group, a female group, and a mixed female and male group.
Be conscious of discrimination against women that may occur in groups and take measures to not allow this to happen. Specify that if workers do not fulfill our teamwork standards that they can potentially lose their position
In orientation, specify treating others as equals and co-operation, discuss harassment
We do not perceive that installation of the bottle bulbs will place new pressures on women to do more work, but rather make their daily tasks and work safer, and open a new realm of being able to work indoors
Our ultimate objective is that both male and female participants are seen as active, rather than passive beneficiaries of the project
Monday, 21 November 2011
How we will gain the necessary support
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Positive Impacts
- Supporting independent female run businesses
- Including women in traditionally male dominated work, such as construction
- Harassment is addressed during orientation and training
- Surveys include female perspective and opinoin
- Focus groups include both female and male groups, and mixed groups to compare opinoins
- Recycling bottles
- Light source increases ability to carry out daily tasks
- Safety increases because use of natural light decreases use of candles, decreases risk of house fires
- Encourages community involvement and input
- paid positions available
- supports decreasing costs of home-run businesses
- encourages innovation
Why our Project is Resilient
- Potential obstacles easily overcome through flexibility
- Low budget
- Necessary supplies are easily accessible
- Realistic goals and focus
- Sustainable and appropriate technology
- Range of positive impacts
Amanzi Layita Launch in Khayelitsha: August 1st, 2012
See Khayelitsha's Weather Here