Change the World Ministries Constructs Orphanage
A story to be continued...
October 20, 2004
by Kris Garrison & Freda Parker
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Ger is the Mongolian word for home -- a traditional home that looks a lot like a Monolithic Dome. Thus far, four foundations for gerlike Monolithic Domes have been completed for the Mongolian Life Center, an orphanage for 180 children, who have been living in primitive, plaster huts.
Now in its fourth operating year, this project was initiated as a labor of love by Jerry Smith, founder and president of Change the World/LifeQwest Ministries.
At the project's start, Smith met with Architect Rick Crandall at Monolithic's headquarters in Italy, Texas. He invited Crandall to visit Mongolia and assist in overseeing the project. Crandall did -- not just once but four times so far. With each visit, Crandall saw more progress -- roads, fencing and infrastructure.
Three of the ger/domes, each with a diameter of 64 feet, serve as the children's dormitories. The fourth, a 90' diameter dome is a multipurpose center with a kitchen, cafeteria and activity areas.
Because of Mongolia's extreme cold -- temperatures plummet to minus 52 degrees F-- an underground tunnel connects the four domes. Thus, the children can get from dome to dome without getting frostbitten.
Construction in Mongolia
It comes with its own set of unique problems. For example, that part of the world seriously lacks supplies. The Mongolians had nothing suitable in which to mix concrete. So they improvised. They used old Chinese bathtubs.
To prepare the foundation, they dug holes with spikes and pickaxes and pulled rocks loose with trucks. They then divided their 65 workers into three teams that mixed and poured the concrete. Using this system, the Mongolians could build one foundation per day.
That construction employed many men and women. For a day's hard labor, each earned between $2.65 and $3.10 -- meager by our standards but a good wage there.
A first time for everything
Crandall remembers the villagers' excitement when they heard about the flushing toilets planned for the facility. He said, "Villagers would come around and watch the dome construction; they were fascinated with the process. Then the women were told that the trenches being dug were for flushing toilets. There are no words to describe their excitement. They just kept saying, 'Dig faster; dig faster.'"
Change the World Ministries also built Mongolia's first greenhouse. They used rolled plastic and plumbing pipes to do it. Mongolia only has a six-month building season and a six-month growing season. But the orphanage needs food year round. Obviously, what they devised is working. Their second year of green-housing brought in a full crop.
To be continued...
Smith has been given an extensive equipment list for the continuation of his project. At the end of October, he will visit Monolithic to discuss the next construction phase. He hopes to raise money to help fund the project. Smith's long range goal includes rebuilding the nearby village of Hongor and adding a medical center, recreation center and more housing.
Crandall said, "Some of the workers there have started realizing how domes could benefit them on a personal level. They have started to ask, 'Could I build a home out of these materials?' Of course I answer yes."
Watch for the next installment of this fascinating story, that we'll bring you after Jerry Smith's visit.
Related Links:
- Progress on the Owiti Children's Home And Medical Centre
- Owiti Children's Home Gives Hope to Very Needy Children in Kenya
- Solid House Foundation
- EcoShells Solve World Housing Problems
- EcoShells Round the Corner
- New Oroville - A High-tech City in India
- The First Monolithic Dome Town
- Monolithic Seeks Sponsors for Developing Countries Housing Projects
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