In my opinion, this rural development project was successful. By teaching the people how to make the bricks and showing them how to build houses for themselves, the people gain a sense of pride and responsibility. Because they have to make all the bricks and build their houses, these people will undoubtedly take good care of the houses, as they had to do all the work and know how difficult it is to build the houses.
Another good thing about this project is that the material needed to make the bricks is simply mud found in the area, which means that they can build as many houses as they like and also, it does not cost money. Because the mud will never run out, this is a truly sustainable project.
By giving these people the machines or tools required to make the bricks and the knowledge to do the job, this community can manufacture as many bricks as they need, and even sell the rest to enterprises. This leads to job creation, as more people become involved in making and selling bricks. The project therefore enables the local people to have a source of income.
This project will start a new form of outreach by teaching the people in the community valuable skills and giving them the resources needed and telling them that they are responsible for the development of the area.
If the government implements more projects like this, they won’t have to spend as much money on RDP houses. Fewer people will have to sleep outside in the cold, which could eventually be the end of squatter camps.
Unemployment is usually highest in rural areas. Through this project, the poorest of the poor find employment.
Very often, aid organisations simply dump provisions in poor communities and leave. In this case, the aid givers stay to teach and monitor. This demonstrates the truth of the saying: Give a man a fish, and he’ll have food for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he’ll have food for life.
