Every homestead has a number of buildings in it. The standard ones are Main House, Kitchen, Granary, Thingira and Latrine. There is always a narrow footpath that connects each of these buildings. Those paths usually get very dusty during the dry season and very wet and muddy during the rainy season. There is also the space infront of the main house (githaku) No grass can grow there because of the heavy human traffic getting in and out of the house. That space suffers the same fate as the paths, getting dusty or muddy depending on the weather, and this is more serious because it all ends up inside the house.
Walkways in rural homes don’t have to be fancy like those in the cities, but they can be decent looking, giving any home a facelift.
A young man can create a job out of making pavements or walkways in every homestead at minimal cost, with locally sourced materials. Even I can do it and as you may have figured by now, I am a middle aged woman who may have trouble bending and if I did, I may need help getting back up. If I can do it, picture what an energetic young man can do.
There are many public quarries in our neighborhoods and even the private ones are easily accessible because the owners are our neighbors. The above walkway is made from materials that are usually discarded after the quarry professionals hew out the ‘good’ bricks that builders purchase. The unevenly shaped rocks are ideal for making Walkways like the one above. The small fragments of rocks that litter the floor of the quarry are the fillers you can use for the in-between spaces. Planks of wood can also be used if they are cheaply available. I imagine sawmills would have uneven pieces of wood that cannot be used for construction, but can be perfect for Walkways. Do your homework. Find where you can get the necessary materials and at what cost.
Build Walkways for your home first and take good pictures for advertising purposes, then hit the road. Always start with people who have money to spare. Show them what you have done for your home and quote a competitive price. As long as the price they pay covers the cost of the materials and leaves you with something small, that is a great start. Your first customers will build your business profile and they will be your point of reference for new customers.
Remember we are not trying to become rich overnight, but instead, we are building a lasting business that can provide you with the much needed employment, with a possibility of turning you into an employer as it grows. Be the solution to needs around your community and get paid for it. That’s business in a nutshell.
