We are pursuing funding for community oriented construction projects that enable us to train those involved in the process. Please note: ECOTEC-Africa is not currently in operation. This page is now for information purposes only. Please forward inquiries to Andreas Froese at www.ecotecnologia.com
ECOTEC-Africa is a franchise of ECO-TEC Environmental Solutions ( http://www.eco-tec-solutions.com/
). ECO-TEC Environmental Solutions sprang from Founder Andreas Froese’s desire to find innovative solutions to the problem of 'junk.’ Prior to establishing ECO-TEC, Froese developed and tested construction techniques using soft-drink bottles made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET). In March 2001, ECO-TEC Environmental Solutions was established in Honduras with the purpose of providing advice on environmental matters and on the management and utilization of solid waste. Among Froese’s early works is the PET-bottle 'Eco House.’ in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. This is assumed to be the first house in the world using PET plastic bottles. No cement was used in its construction. In the past nine years, ECO-TEC has developed several projects with a comprehensive vision which simultaneously addresses environmental issues and social development. The activities of ECO-TEC are targeted mainly at consulting and training in the following areas:
· Bioconstruction and eco-design
· Composting
· Vermiculture
· Management of local neighborhood household waste
Various national and international agencies have been part of the realization of ECO-TEC projects, including: Trocaire, The World Bank, Rotary Club International, and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). To date, ECO-TEC has collaborated, through a learn-by-doing philosophy, with multiple communities in Honduras, Bolivia, Columbia, Mexico, India, Uganda and Nigeria to successfully complete over 50 projects. ECO-TEC’s objectives are to:
· Generate community benefits by strengthening social networks
· Improve the quality of life in the communities where we operate
· Generate employment opportunities for vulnerable populations
· Improve self-worth for the individuals with whom we interact
After continued success in Latin America and India, ECO-TEC is currently in the process of establishing itself in Uganda. In April of 2010, ECO-TEC completed its first project, a toilet for a primary school in Kayunga District. This was a self-funded project run in partnership with a local community development organization. ECO-TEC believes this to be the first bottle construction on the African Continent. As a result of this project and training, several people in Uganda are now able to build similar constructions. ECO-TEC Africa’s main goals are to 1) increase the capacity of local staff in other construction methods developed by ECO-TEC so that Uganda staff can pursue further construction trainings independent of the founder’s presence and 2) offer superior, environmentally sustainable latrine construction (that does not involve training) at rates competitive to commercial construction. In July of 2011, ECOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGY ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS LTD was registered in Uganda.
