By William Mace | Manukau Courier
Auckland, New Zealand — Nigel Lowe makes his living out of making things but this September he’s simply hoping to make things better for Ethiopia’s homeless.
The Manukau Institute of Technology lecturer from Papakura will spend four weeks labouring under the African sun building homes under Habitat For Humanity’s Global Village project.
All he needs is $7500 to get him to Ethiopia and back and the rest he’ll do with his hands, a hammer and a handful of mud.
“I could do with a mud house myself. It’s a resource that they’ve learnt to use throughout Africa.
“Concrete is the best insulator you can get – it keeps your home cool in the heat, and warm in the cold – and mud is pretty much the same.”
The homes combine a timber structure with a mud-covered outer shell and Mr Lowe says he’s prepared to learn and work.
The desert-like conditions will be far removed from Papakura’s green fields and the workshops of MIT’s engineering and trades faculty where he has taught for three years.
The qualified builder was drafted into the project by an old friend who thought his can-do spirit would suit the harsh African environment – and his friendly nature would win him lots of friends on the job site.
“I know it’s going to be pretty physical work – the heat is the major killer and you’ve got to drink lots of fluids,” he says.
“I reckon it’ll be great and I might even lose some kilos.
“Apparently the local people come and help and you can make some good friends with the people there.”
Another purpose of the trip is to help with maintenance on orphanages and a hospital built by Kiwis in the past.
“I did a big OE for six years and went through to Africa and had a look around but nothing like this, this is a challenge,” Mr Lowe says.
“We’re over there for four weeks building houses and visiting orphanages and the rest is a mystery and that’s what I like about it.
“I love adventure and a challenge – no matter what it is I’ll give it a good go.”
But Mr Lowe knows how tight the economy is at the moment and is working hard to gather some fundraising ideas before September.
He’s been challenged to roller-skate around the MIT campus in a pink bikini but he’s afraid that might cause too much public disturbance.
But he is keen to give presentations on his return to interested businesses or sponsors.
“I will get there, I’m determined to but I might have to rob a bank,” he says.