Djiboutian Red Crescent Society Volunteers Learn to Build Superadobe Structures

By U.S. Army Specialist Sheri Carter

Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa

BALBALA, Djibouti (Oct. 28, 2010) – The Djiboutian Red Crescent Society (DRCS) held
a two-day Superadobe Training Seminar, in partnership with a team from the U.S. Army
418th Civil Affairs Battalion, Charlie Company.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Joshua Erickson, a graduate of The California Institute of Earth Art
and Architecture (Cal-Earth) Superadobe training course led volunteers through step-
by-step instruction, which provided students with the fundamental skills to build a dome.
Each student worked on an example dome at the DRCS compound in Balbala.

Volunteers from around Djibouti, including representatives from the cities of Obock,
Tadjoura, Balbala and Dikhil, as well as female Red Crescent volunteers participated in
the seminar.
“Acquiring this skill will enable these students to be able to build their own structure in
their community as well as allow them to train others how to build a structure,” stated
Red Crescent Secretary General, Abdi Khaireh, who passed out certificates of
achievement to the 15 students that completed the seminar.
An Ecodome structure consists of sandbags filled with earth, placed in layers or long
coils, with strands of barbed wire placed between them for reinforcement against the
elements. Sergeant Erickson and a team of military volunteers recently built an example
structure on base at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.
Many expressed their desire to teach others what they learned. “I would like to finish
this house and assist on future projects in my village,” stated Moustapha Osman, a Red
Crescent volunteer.