Rural Development
ViviendasLeón's Rural Construction Program has been developed to provide essential buildings for rural communities around León. As the centers of support for the resurgence of an agricultural economy, these communities are vital to the region's future. Improving the living standards within these communities also reduces migration to the cities; urban overpopulation is a leading factor in the economic and social disruption of many Latin American cities.
The rural projects are designed to benefit the community, and each community decides which project it will undertake. Most communities have chosen schools, which improve access to education--a principal cornerstone of long-term development, and housing, which improve family living standards. The projects are built using rammed earth, a traditional construction method that has been reintroduced and updated through years of research and experimentation. It is a material requiring basic skills and many hands, and is therefore ideal for volunteers and community members alike.
Our current project is a preschool for thirty children. It is a demonstration of our new Estructura Ambiental design. It includes the cooling benefits of earth construction combined with a roof that is designed to function like a chimney, drawing cool air through windows and exhausting hot air through the roof. This concept is a reflection our commitment to sustaining the environment and maintaining the cultural heritage of Nicaragua.