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                                        What is earthbag construction?

                                        Picture
                                        PSF volunteers building an earthbag bathroom

                                        Earthbag building (sometimes called sandbag building) is a practical and low-cost, permanent construction method. First used by the military for building durable, bullet and blast-resistant structures, this method has recently experienced a surge of interest.
                                        Earthbags can be used to build almost any shape or size of building in any price range with just a few basic tools.

                                         
                                        Millions of victims of wars and natural disasters need low-cost housing and temporary shelter. More durable than brick and more comfortable than temporary structures, earthbags allow even unskilled workers to build their own shelters with minimal materials and without destroying local resources. 


                                        Why build with earthbags?

                                        Picture
                                        An earthbag wall being built
                                        Benefits of earthbag construction: 

                                        1 - Resitant to : - Trauma and earthquake
                                                                    - Tsunami
                                                                     - Mold
                                                                     - Fire
                                                                     - Hurricanes
                                                                     - Tornadoes
                                                                     - Floods
                                                                     - Insects and rodents

                                        2 - Sustainable: Earthbag homes (made primarily of dirt, an abundant 
                                              resource) last longer than traditional houses and their construction has
                                              a much lower environmental impact.      
                                                 
                                        3 – Low cost:  Earthbag construction provides a low-cost alternative to traditional
                                              building methods.           

                                        4 - Simple:  Very few tools and almost no special skills are required.
                                              The necessary skills for each step of construction are quickly learned by volunteers and easily taught to locals.

                                        5 - Adaptable:  You can build almost any style or shape of building imaginable: domes, vaults, structures with vertical walls, curved ‘organic' designs or roundhouses. This makes earthbag construction ideal for a variety of projects, from family houses to community centers.

                                         How to build an earthbag structure ?

                                        Picture
                                        Comunity center made of earthbag


                                        Building with earthbags is a very simple process. The principle of the technique is to fill bags with earth and stack them in a similar way to bricks. 


                                        PSF involment into earthbag construction

                                        Picture
                                        An finished earthbag house constructed by PSF
                                        Though it has been several years since the earthquake, there is still a lot of work to be done in rebuilding Pisco. Many families are still living in terrible conditions, in mold-covered canvass tents or in dirt floor houses made of plastic or scrap wood.

                                        Earthbag construction can provide a long-term solution to these problems as an environmentally friendly alternative to current building methods, which are comparatively short-term and less stable.

                                        Pisco Sin Fronteras believes that earthbag technology can provide permanent housing that will be stronger, cheaper to build and earthquake resistant. 



                                        Examples of PSF Earthbag Projects:


                                        Carmela's Wall

                                        Community Center

                                        Help us make it happen!

                                        Picture
                                        Community meeting explaining earthbag construction


                                        PSF is committed to the development and expansion of earthbag construction techniques here in Pisco and we need your help to make this happen.

                                        We need donations to help fund these crucial projects. Right now we are fundraising to build houses and community centers in the poorest areas of Pisco.

                                        By donating to PSF’s earthbag project, you will contribute to establishing a solid foundation for the people of Pisco, as well as helping to empower them with the knowledge and skills to build their future. 




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                                        You can make a donation online through our fiscal parthner Omprakash

                                                                        
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                                        Pisco Sin Fronteras
                                        +51 56534970
                                        info@piscosinfronteras.org