The project primarily focuses on strengthening the workforce for sustainable bamboo construction through a highly practical 10-month training program. In Manabí, a coastal province of Ecuador affected by an earthquake in 2016, bamboo construction is particularly relevant for safer and more sustainable building practices, utilizing a locally available, renewable resource. The current cycle of the Workshop School in Chone canton is the third in Manabí, following those in Portoviejo and El Carmen. Developing local specialized capacities contributes to the local economy and has increased the involvement of both local and central governments in the development of the bamboo construction chain.
To facilitate construction practices and short courses, a “mobile workshop” consisting of a small trailer to transport tools and equipment to construction sites for hands-on bamboo construction training was built.
Research in sustainable construction is also supported through this project, with five ongoing studies, including the association of bamboo and fungi for biomaterials development and potential edible species, as well as the design of modular emergency housing and bamboo panels.
- Renewed Agreement with MIDUVI until 2026 to promote bamboo construction.
- Signed Agreements with Cantonal GADs of Chone and Olmedo for the realization of short construction courses during the rest of 2024.
- Mobile Workshop Constructed to support short course development in bamboo construction and Workshop School practices.
- Learning Tour with 47 Workshop School graduates from El Carmen cycle to visit examples of sustainable construction and exchange experiences with specialized masters from Las Tunas, Manabí.
- 27 Construction projects with bamboo included graduates from the workshop school.
- Graduation of 76 Participants from the El Carmen workshop school cycle (59M-17F).
- Participation of 14 Workshop School students and graduates in the “Course on Designing Organic Bamboo Structures” organized by Tacuara from Colombia, involving the construction of a 230m2 multi-purpose bamboo cover .
- New ETCSB Cycle in Chone started on April 10, 2024, operating from Universidad Técnica de Manabí, Chone extension, with 87 current students and SOMOS Foundation as the training operator.
- Development of a New Labor Competency Profile for Construction Professionals to be delivered and further evaluated by the Ministry of Labor.
Five Research Projects on Sustainable Construction underway: 2 with Universidad Central del Ecuador, 1 with Escuela Politécnica Nacional, 1 with Universidad Católica Santiago de Guayaquil, and 1 with Virginia Tech University.
