1. Ikirunga Cabin V7 (Volcano Cabin)
This is the first project we will undertake in order to generate funds for the subsequent phases.
We have now raised guaranteed funding for the construction cost of the first three Ikirunga Cabins in Musanze. We are looking for further funding for more cabins across Rwanda to benefit local village industry.
The proposal is to build a series of these cabins across Rwanda for rental to tourists, in due course. All profits from the first phase will go to Shyira mountain village in North-West Rwanda via a new Rwandan Charitable Company which we are setting up at present. We will be donating our fees to the project to cover our architectural work and we will not be charging any fees for administration, or our time. We may need to charge some expenses in the future. Ikirunga Cabins may be built in other parts of Rwanda to generate funds for local villages and projects.
The Ikirunga Cabins will offer an excellent standard of accommodation pitched towards mid-range hospitality which, at present, is lacking in Rwanda.
We have designed a number of variations (V6, V7, V8) but the key aim is to produce an iconic, memorable design which people will immediately recognise either on the web or in articles. This approach has been proved with the ‘AirShip 002’ and ‘Captain’s Cabin’ from Out of the Blue Ltd. (www.outoftheblue.uk.com). Sustainability and use of local materials will be paramount and some of the cabins may well be off-grid.
Ikirunga Cabins will provide an elliptical plan two-storey accommodation for 4 people in two double or twin bedrooms with en-suite shower and wc. There is a living room/galley on the ground floor with a dramatic, tall, distinctive, copper, aluminium or papyrus ‘volcano cone’ roof topped by a glass skylight and louvres. This will draw in cool air from floor level in the veranda and exhaust the warmed air high up through convection thus providing natural air conditioning. The area of the accommodation is around 60m2 with a balcony and veranda to the perimeter.
The bedroom core of the cabin will be built of volcanic rock from the local area, to both floors. The living area will be part volcanic rock and part glazed. We will use local materials in each different region.
The interior will be furnished with comfortable African furniture and beautiful basket-ware woven by widows of the genocide from across Rwanda. The walls will be simply painted and the interior finish of the Volcano cooling cone will be woven reed or basket-ware.
2. An apprentice building training programme will be set up to build the cabins.
We are now actively searching for outstanding sites in the Musanze area to build the first THREE Ikirunga Cabins. Hopefully we will find a site looking towards the volcanos and also provide simple accommodation for a housekeeper and cook who will maintain and supply food to the cabins.
Please contact us if you would like to be a part of building the Ikirunga Cabins; your support would be invaluable.
ONCE THE FIRST TWO STAGES ARE COMPLETE WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PROJECTS AS SHOWN BELOW:
3. A village store
At present villagers have to walk 7km or more for basic supplies. This can change.
4. Cultural Centre
This hub will become the focus and sales point for handmade raffia and basketware by the women and menfolk of Shyira and beyond. A business plan has been prepared to raise the considerable funds needed for the equipment to make this a reality.
The over-riding aim is to attract visitors to Shyira Village and to encourage them to take part in the range of activities being offered
5. Small new businesses.
After discussion with the residents of Shyira there will be a number of businesses that can be encouraged to start or be restarted with a small injection of capital. Staff wages could be paid initially from the Shyira Foundation. The intention is to provide Trade not Aid.
These might include renovating the existing coffee plantation and building a simple interpretation centre telling the coffee story.
Market gardening and horticulture for the community? Activities for visitors? Demonstrations?
Growing Pyrethrum? Cocoa?
There is also the possibility of making cruelty-free ‘leather’ from banana plant waste. Over 4 tons of waste is produced for every ton of fruit making this a potentially valuable resource. We are contacting the founders and patent holders in India for this venture.
We are also contacting a start-up company called Texfad in Uganda who convert banana fibre waste into rugs, mats and household furnishings to explore a partnership. They can also provide training.
6. The Museum.
We will assemble, in association with the Pastor, residents and people who have lived there in the past, the photographs, books, oral history and artefacts for a small museum telling the story of Shyira with particular focus on the building of the hospital, the church and school.
We have photographs from 1938 of the King of Rwanda, Mutara 111 Rudahigwa (1931-1959), opening the hospital and many other photographs from the period 1934-1939. More history and photographs will be unearthed from as far back as we can and up to the present day.
7. This section will amplify the scope of demonstrations, range of activities:
Tours of brickmaking, basket-weaving, woodcarving and courses.
Mountain biking and bicycle repair workshop, Guided hiking, Bird safaris, The story of coffee plantations…….
There will be many ideas for new activities.
