Project Update- Construction Begins!

Our materials have arrived and the families worked hard to distribute them. We did a lottery and started working this last week, rain and all, with various families and two brick layers. The results have all been great, each fogon or brick oven coming out very well. The families seem real happy and excited and have tried all sorts of dishes in the oven already. It also has been real nice to see quick results this week since its been real cold down in the 40s and the oven heats up the kitchen real well without the smoke.
Here are some photos of the construction process_
First we had to make the mix_ Sand, red dirt, molasses and a bit of cement for the chimney. The kids had some fun preparing that up.

then the brick layers took some measurements, took out some kitchen wall boards for the chimney and began! First they worked together and then split up to make the other fogones by themselves.
Here laying out the basic form

Here they are putting in the ashpit

Here they are setting in the metal oven and placing the iron plate for boiling and frying.


Here they are working on the chimney, nice and chilly in the rain!


Here we are drinking mate and trying it out already. As it begins to dry the smoke is already circulating well and going outside the chimney instead of inside. People are real happy and warming up!
Here we have tried out the oven and within 20 minutes the oven was real hot and within 30 minutes we made traditional chipa almidon, or corn bread with cheese and mandioca casssava starch

Here is another fogon done at a diferent house there are a total of 5 fogones already made and when more bricks are ready we will continue with the lottery to construct fogones for those who have paid up to the committee monthly cuota, have the molasses made and the workers ready.