KUSHIRIKIANA
Businga, Nyangezi, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo
2023
5,294 m²
Sexual violence against women and children in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo is a problem rooted in a long history of violence, and involves a number of political, security, cultural, economic and educational issues. The last three issues relate specifically to discrimination against women, their economic vulnerability and their poor access to education. Social architecture provides socio-economic and educational principles that can empower a community. Predominantly a male trade, architecture, in particular the building process, can empower women in order to support the prevention of sexual violence in Eastern Congo. Informed by an architectural guide created for NGO development projects, the design of a crafts and agricultural centre for women and children examines new ways to transform their image in Businga, South Kivu province.
Putting effort to prevent sexual violence create new ways to address the situation and targets the issue at the roots.
Prevention of sexual violence can rely on educational, cultural and economic principles that create a healing cycle over generations.
Like many other disciplines, architecture can adopt principles and rely on the building process to extend its impact.
Armed groups in eastern Congo have been fighting for mining resources over multiple years. As a result, the population has been massively displaced and are victim to violence.
THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS CAN INTRODUCE WOMEN AND CHILDREN TO A NEW TRADE, GENERATE REVENUE AND CHANGE THEIR IMAGE.
Kushirikiana is a construction guide with economic, cultural and educational strategies for women and children. It has been developed to help anyone, including NGO's to follow a more holistic and empowering approach to the building process.
The Businga market is an informal market serving the Nyangezi sector.
It was created by the community of the surrounding villages in 1980-84, given the long distance between the villages and the centre of the sector (Nyangezi). The lack of road and building infrastructure forces women to carry their produce on foot and exposes them to armed groups.
“TU NA TAKA TU SOKO WA MU BRIQUE.” (SWAHILI) -
“WE WOULD JUST LIKE A BRICK MARKET.”
Charlène Makeba, Vendor in Businga Informal Market.
A design inspired by loincloth to create a parallel between the fabric and the brick in their behaviour and material culture.
