5) Description of housing product/service offering: The main products introduced by the Organization for this initiative are; The use of one's local Technology eg. -Using the improved mud blocks technology made from the red mud sand. In this technology, we make us of the red mud sands to construct strong blocks, just by simply digging deep down the ground and bring out the red sand, mix with water to the desired taste and start moulding with a locally made moulds. this system have automatically reduced the problems of the poor people about housing problems within 12 rural communities with over 71 Villages in them here in Nigeria. the Organization have also helped some poor villagers to produce these locally made mud block moulds for their family uses incase of future amendments at the buildings. We have also train some young people on how to mould and build the local houses since it does not need any modern technology. With the trainig given to them, almost every young man within these communities is a house builder and can afford home for him and his family. This system have reduced the cost of buldings for the poor people in these rural villages. The only few expenses made by people during the house building are; to buy cements for only plastering of the building (optional), to buy woods for roofing if the people don't have trees arround and to pay the labourers only. These three expenses are not too much for the people since the Organization work with the Community Development Unions of the varrious communities, to provide small money for poor people who met our support criterias to build houses for shelter only. - The use of raffia palm leaves to roof the house.We discoverd that the raffia palm tree leave is one of the locally best roofing material. It cools the house during heavy sun shines. It provides jobs for peopl who produce it for sale. We address financial aspect of housing shortage. This involes charitable works for us. The rural poor widos and the old aged people are our beneficiaries.

6) Description of innovation: The approach the organization introduced ensures trust in us. This housing project is completly different with other programs/projects of the Organization in the sense that, the initiative have committed money and efforts to ensure that the poor people are safe within their villages. The materials we use for the building of the house, is aboundant in the communities, they are also tested and trusted for their strenght and ability to withstand wind, rain, and other external conditions affecting houses. The Organizsation have also been able to utilize local technologies in this initiative. With the products or materials used for the building of the local houses, one may finish building his/her house and move into it withi three weeks to one month.

7) Benefits to clients: We reach out to people through women groups, churches, Local Government Development Centers etc. We Organiza seminars and forums for poor widos, Poor old men and women who don't have a helping hands within the rural villages we are able to reach. during these forums, we call for nomination for building supports from these community women groups we work with. After the nomination deadlines, some people will be sellected based on the criterias for the years support after which we carry out our project for the selected poor people. Atimes, the organization will provide little money, materials such as woods, nails, local roofs for the person and allow him/her to emply people to build the house at his/her wish . The organization also render monitorig service to the housing project to make sure the project is been carried out whenever support is been given to someone. The estimated costs for building 100 local houses (3 bed rooms and pallor) for year 2006 is N1.5m which is about $11,100 and throuh donations, contributions from the Community Development Unions, Local Government Areas, Churches, Public and Private Sectors, the Organization have been able to build and complete 67 houses in 5 Communities remaining 33 houses still under construction in the other five communities, since the Oranization selected 10 houses for each community (100 houses for 10 Communities). Although other people who can afford the buildings build for themselves using the same technigues as our initiative since we trained people during our housing maintenance workshops in communities. Since 2004, the organization has provided 217 houses for people for poor people (2004-50 Houses, 2005 =100 houses and 2006- 67 completed while 33 under construction.

8) Key operational partnerships: Our partners are the Community Development Unions of the various communities, Local Government Area Councils, Churches, Women Trade Gruops Public and Private Sectors and individuals. These are the partners that work with us. They help through donations, volunteering works, provision of local building materials for the building projects. The organization also wish to write agencies and international donors for support to enable us reach out to more people within the rural communities and villages in Nigeria. The roles of these partners are to proide support, ideas and suggestions on how to carr out effective projects to enable us achieve our major aim which is to provide home/shelter for the selected poorest men and women within rural primitive communities.

9) Financial model: Actually, almost everyone can afford the major building products or materials, which is the red mud sand and water. Then, the raffia palm leaves used for the roofing work can as well be produced personally since raffia palm tree is all over rural communities, instead of buying from the market to spend money. The organization have been able to teach people to make use of these local materials so as not to waste money buying expensive modern building materials. The financial scheme of the organization towards the house initiative will suit almost everybody living within these ryral communities eccept the poorest ones among us.

          • Costs as percentage of income: 5

          • Financing: this initiative is financed through donations and contributions from indivuals, Community Development Unions, Women Trade Groups, Churches, Public and private groups and the local government area councils. The initiative is not profitable at all. The beneficiaries's contributions don't involve money rather, they volunteer to support through other ways. The other sourcec of funding for the initiative is from the organization's money from other departments or the Rural Links International (NGO) and its department for rual development projects. Most of the money where gotten through grants and awards from international organizations like International Youth Foundation, LEAP Africa and Nokia. The Oganization will also introduce sales in the cities to help get more funds for the initiative.

10) Effectiveness

          • Project outcomes: The achivement of the initiative have felt so much within the rural communities where we operate for now. Atleast 217 buildings have been built by the organization through this initiative. These 217 houses have benefited the entire house holds of the 217 families that got our free support program. Meanwhile, the entire Communities /Villages with over 45,000 people are now aware of the products and materials for affordable house and can as well build their houses on their own.

          • Number of clients in past year: In the 2004, 50 houses where built free for 50 families with a total population of about 350 people living in the houses. In the year 2005, 100 buildins where givin free to 100 poor eople within 10 communities. the total number of people living

          • Percentage of clients that are poor or marginalized: 7

          • Potential demand: The demend for the product is on the increase. In some regions like the northern part of Nigeria, the type of the product we use can benefit them very well since they are in a very hot weather region of the country. Up to 500,000 people - 900,000 will benefit from the product. In countries like Mali, Niger and other poor countries, the products will help alot and almost 400,000- 600,000 people can benefit from it in a country like mali and Niger.

11) Scaling up strategy

          • Stage of the initiative: Scaling Up stage.

          • Expansion plan: Before next three years, the initiative will reach out to more than 400 rural communities with over 900 villages in Nigeria with a total population of about 1.5 million people. And by the year 2009, more than 800 houses built with local materials will be given to poorest people liven within the rural, primitive communities free of charge. We also hope that by that time, international donors will be able to see our impacts and supporty us financially.

12) Origin of the initiative: The housing problems facing poor widows, old aged men and women is a very bad problems which must attract the attention of the world. Lack of access to housing materials have also contributed to this problems. In some communitie, many people are homeless due to house colapse, fire outbreak and other socio-economic problems attached to this. In most cases, the attention of the government is shifted to the developed cities where there is alot money thereby leaving the poor people within the rural villages to suffer and die in pains. In some communities, most houses where people live leak water during rainy seasons, no one to help. Some are not able to maintain their homes due to poverty. It is the social problems arising from the above, that led me to the birth of this initiative.

Contact Information:
Okolie  Ugochukwu
Ashoka Fellow
Founder/CEO
Rural Links International
(NGO)
34 Udemezue street, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State
Nigeria
Tel: 234-8051-2486-18
Email: nonyeck@yahoo.com
Website: under construction