LocationsRespecting the Clay: The Women Rewriting Africa’s Building Story
September 9, 2026
Participants of the ACP-EU Mining Development Programme Regional Training on Low-Carbon Materials and Environmentally Friendly Construction engage in hands-on training on the production of low-carbon bricks at Tawah Vocational Training Centre in Kisarawe, Tanzania.
Beneath our feet lies one of the world's oldest, most resilient building materials. For centuries,families across Africa have built homes, schools, and public places out of the very earth they walk on. Today, as cities frow and the climate changes, this ancient soil is being rediscovered, not as a relic of the past, but as the blueprint for a sustainable future.
Recently, the quiet town of Kisarawe, became the epicenter of this rediscovery. For nearly three weeks, women from seven African nations – including Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia, Mongolia and Tanzania gathered at Tanzania gathered at Tanzania Women Architects for Humanity (TAWAH) Vocational Training Center. Their goal was simple yet revolutionary: to master the art of Low-Carbon construction, prove that women belong at the helm of building industry and learn to build a new Africa, one block at a time.
“Women are the Builders, Men are the Enablers.” - This phrase, echoed throughout the dust-filled air of the training grounds, became more than a slogan. For the women sweating over brick presses, it was direct challenge to the old way of thinking. In an industry historically dominated by men, there women were claiming their place, not just as helpers, but as the architects, business owners and visionaries of their communities.
For Uyanga Gankhuyag, the Global Program Manager of ACP-EU Development Minerals programme, has warched this movement grow over the past decade through the ACP-EU Development Minerals Programme, the heart of the project is about turning raw earth into human dignity.
“The goal is to support orderly, organised development for the small scale artisans who work these mines,” Uyanga explains. “Construction is a beautiful form of value addition. You take raw minerals directly from the ground and transform them into durable building blocks. You are taking the earth and shaping it into shelter, safety and a home for people.
The Wisdom of the Earth
The training was a grueling hands on dive into the science of Stabilised Earth Blocks (SEBs). Unlike traditional red clay bricks, which must be baked in massive, wood-fired kilns that devour local forests, SEBs are compressed and cured naturally in the sun. They use local soil mixed with just a pinch of stabiliser, completely by passing the burning process. The results? Strong, durable homes with a fraction of the carbon footprint.
But working with the earth is as much an art as it is a science.
During the training, a phrase coined by Dr. Andre Njoya, a senior lecturer from Cameroon, quickly became the group’s guiding mantra: “If you don’t respect the clay, the clay won’t respect you.”
At first, the statement brought smiles. But as the women mixed soil under the hot sun, they learned just how unforgiving the earth can be. Add a splash too much water and the blocks crack as they dry. Use too little water and they crumble to dust. Rush the curing process and the entire structure weakens. The clay demanded patience, precision and a deep respect for the natural world lessons that no text book could fully capture.
To bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and modern technology, the builders also visited Ardhi University’s Building Research Institute. There, they analysed clay content and put their handmade blocks through rigorous engineering stress tests. It was a powerful moment of validation: proving that traditional, earth-based construction isn’t a compromise in quality, but a scientifically sound, world class standard.
Taking the Skills Home
As the workshop came to a close, the focus shifted from how to mold a brick to how to rebuild a life. For the participants, the physical transformation of the soil mirrored a change withing themselves.
“When I first arrived, my hands were soft and I was intimidated by the heavy brick presses,” shares Wendy Anastasia Nambule Mukape a participant from Zambia, her hands stained with the red dust of Kisarawe. “But as the days went on, I felt a shift, I realised that the dirt beneath our feet is actually gold. Mixing the soil, feeling its texture, and watching a solid block emerge from my own strength changed how I see myself. I’m not just learning a trade; I am learning that I have the power to build my own future and my community’s future, from the ground up.”
Wendy is not alone in her determination.
“Because it has really been a hands on experience, I plan to use the skills gained here to train other engineers and people in my community,” says Naome Asasira, an engineer from Uganda. Her eyes are already set on the horizon. “I want to start a small scale pilot project back home so we can show people what is possible. We can make green construction a mainstream reality.”
This ripple effect is what Godfrey Nyamrunda, who coordinates the programme in Tanzania, hopes will rewrite the economic landscape for the local communities.
“Mining and construction have long been seen as spaces only for men,” Godfrey points out. “But this training throws all those doors wide open. By learning to add value to what is already under our feet, women are creating brand new local industries, jobs and steady incomes. For Tanzania, where we have an abundance of clay, this is a massive opportunity. It gives unemployed youth a way to build their own livelihoods and at the same time, significantly lowers the cost of building decent, dignified homes for everyone.”
Sometimes, the solutions to our greatest modern challenges from youth unemployment to climate change don’t require expensive, imported technologies. Sometimes, the future is waiting for us right where we started: in the very earth beneath our feet, waiting for the right hands to shape it.
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