About a week ago our crew of long term volunteers piled up blankets and pillows in the common space of our camp and slept head to head, awaiting the arrival of our brick press. Anytime anything arrives at our camp in Takure, we are excited. New volunteers, fresh veggies dropped off by local community members, and chocolate are all greeted with an abundance of enthusiasm. But this brick press! This Auram 3000 Brick Press had been lollygagging at the Indian border for over two months while our dedicated team of volunteers and local community members created a beautiful home for it in the mountains and terraces of Takure. They were not going to let it sneak up in the dark of night. They welcomed the press at the training center at 3am and took photographs in dawn's first light for those of us with the misfortune to not be at camp for its impromptu arrival. Truth be told, the late arrival wasn't the brick press’ fault. Unrest at the border with India kept our beautiful, bright orange, brick press caged up.
But now, assembled, and fully functioning, our brick press is ready. We are ready. The community of Takure is 100% ready. We are making bricks. CSEB's to be exact. Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks. Sourcing all of our raw materials from the surround 8 km, our CSEB's will be local, sustainable, and manually produced at our Brick Production and Training Center.
Our team is aching to get started. In the next 6 months, before the rains of the monsoon are upon us, we want to make 60,000 bricks. We want to complete the rebuild of one primary school and start the second. We want to show the village of Takure our dedication through our actions here on the ground but also through the continued generosity of our friends and family around the world.
So we ask for your help. Come join us, mix sand, gravel, clay, and cement and make bricks. Spread the word. Those of you that were here, share your stories with the people around you. Those of you that are coming, tell everyone you know that you are about to touch a village and a community in a beautiful and enduring way. You will help them make bricks, build new schools, and rebuild their lives.
So we ask for your help. Come join us, mix sand, gravel, clay, and cement and make bricks. Spread the word. Those of you that were here, share your stories with the people around you. Those of you that are coming, tell everyone you know that you are about to touch a village and a community in a beautiful and enduring way. You will help them make bricks, build new schools, and rebuild their lives.
