We are specifically fundraising to build a simple Village Shelter in Djamta!’ae in November 2025. This will be a prototype that if successful can be adopted by other villages. This space will be multi-purpose and serve a variety of functions:

Community space: The shelter will provide shade from the desert sun and protection from the rains. A place to gather as the sole baobab tree is where visitors camp. It will provide a focus for village life when the traditional fires cannot be lit (as in the rainy season).

Teaching space: a place where the elders, teachers or visitors can teach children and young adults. A sheltered space for lessons, workshops, and perhaps, one day, educational films.

Craft space: for villagers to make the crafts which they sell to support themselves. The women make ostrich shell jewellery and tan hides. The men make knives, bows and arrows, firesticks and other traditional items.

Solar power support: The structure will support solar panels and a 3kW solar power system (see Solar Power Project) that will enable the villagers to run a small freezer to store bush meat and avoid some of the hunger they currently experience. A lock-up will house the solar inverter, batteries, etc.

Storage: There is space for the later addition of a shed or storage room under one end of the structure to store precious items that do not survive well in leaky tents. There is also the possibility of storage at ceiling height for things like the devil’s claw crop, and items that need to be kept out of reach of children.

Specification

This is a very simple steel post and beam construction with a single slope corrugated roof and ceiling. It is 12 metres long and 4 metres wide and resembles a car port. It is designed to be low cost and replicable to make it easier for other villages in the area to adopt. A second one is planned for Di//xao#oha village in November 2026 – funding permitting.

Cost

The cost of materials and delivery to the site is £4,000 (EUR€4,600 USD$5,350). Labour is provided free through volunteers.