Tea and fire are two important aspects of the D’kar culture. However, firewood is a scarce commodity and can be very difficult to find. Given this context, the Ceekg’am team created two prototypes. They first created fuel briquettes from agricultural waste (maize and donkey waste) that is more commonly found in the area. Secondly, they built a stove that will use the alternative fuel (briquettes) and firewood to efficiently boil small quantities of water throughout the day, providing households with a more sustainable fuel source for their tea and family fires.

This poster was designed by a team of participants at IDDS Botswana. It aims to share information and knowledge gleaned from the team’s work during the summit.

Wheelchair users in D’kar face difficulties in navigating through the deep sand and gravel terrain, exerting a lot of effort or relying on others to help. The Huiku team developed accessories which include wider wheels and levers to drive the wheelchair more easily through the sand while maintaining the user’s comfort level. The wheels are also more durable to protect from sharp stones or thorns that are usually buried in the sand.

This poster was designed by a team of participants at IDDS Botswana. It aims to share information and knowledge gleaned from the team’s work during the summit.

One of the primary sources of income for D’kar residents is traditional jewelry made out of ostrich egg shells and glass beads. The Cam Qg’am Team built a solar bead furnace which utilizes the power of the Kalahari sun and local materials to make glass beads. This furnace will reduce the overall cost of the beads, provide a more consistent supply, and allow jewelry makers in D’kar to customize their own glass beads.

This poster was designed by a team of participants at IDDS Botswana. It aims to share information and knowledge gleaned from the team’s work during the summit.

The Xg’ae team explored different ways of creating durable, cost-effective ways of housing. They built a press to make interlocking blocks which can be assembled into traditional round houses called rondavels with no mortar or skilled labor. These interlocking blocks will create comfortable and long-lasting homes that will promote the safety and well-being of the D’kar community, especially in the event of natural disasters such as flooding.

This poster was designed by a team of participants at IDDS Botswana. It aims to share information and knowledge gleaned from the team’s work during the summit.