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.

Participants at IDDS Amazon worked on improved integrated vegetable and poultry production techniques, including a system to support egg production and chicken husbandry, as well as the utilization of chicken droppings. Their final prototypes included a chicken coop that can host around 15 to 30 chickens, providing protection from predators at night, and a food garden that is fertilized by chicken droppings and in return, helps provide the chickens with a healthy diet.

This report was written and filed by a team of participants at IDDS Amazon. It aims to share information and knowledge gleaned from the team’s work during the summit.