Children's workshops on awareness of earthen architecture in Baasneeré (Burkina Faso)

Abstract

[EN] This text presents the training experience conducted by a research team from Universitat Politècnica de Valencia in January 2018 as part of the ¿ConBurkina¿ international development project. The aim of this cooperation project, developed over a two-year period, is to provide support to the Algemesí Solidari association in constructing a secondary school. The work has been organized around different lines, the main one being training and awareness workshops for the local population. The project has sought to involve local residents and encourage their participation. It is essential for the population as a whole, particularly for the children and young adults who will benefit from this new school, to realise the advantages of earthen architecture over what is known as ¿French architecture¿ and the architecture of other schools built of cement blocks and corrugated iron. For this it was essential to organize practical workshops, with an active methodology where these children, future users, could experiment with constructive techniques and the main advantages of the system (experimental activities varying temperatures and ventilation, concept of local production vs. industrial production, etc.). These workshops have allowed the children of Baasneere to learn about the valorisation of local traditional buildings and techniques, about the appreciation of local natural materials and their properties, and about the importance of the architecture of their village as part of their culture. All these activities were designed to provide information to the children of Baasneere, increasing their appreciation of their own culture, and in turn empowering the future generations which will be in charge of decision-making in years to come, facing the changes imposed by industry, globalisation and speculation.