Transformation in Ethiopia

These photos from Dieter Schneider show work in Ethiopia which has changed lives . Through the charity Caritas ,a group of wallers from Switzerland have been helping the local people to build a series of retaining walls not along the valley sides but across the valleys. As a result the sudden flow of occasional heavy rain which normally scours away the very sparse soil is delayed by the dams.The effect is to create flat areas of rich fertile ground in a part of the country normally thought of as semi desert, which only supported a few goats in the past. This is a project where dry stone walls have meant that folk who were living at a subsistence level are now producing a surplus of food .A great credit to everyone involved.

Choosing the correct stone

This fine garden entrance was built by Scottish Master Craftsman Jim Scott. Here you can see a good example of how wallers have to adapt their style to the available rock. At either side of the arch the adjoining wall has been built with round field stones which would not be suitable for the entrance. For the strength of the curve it must have been necessary to select a different type of rock and to dress these to produce the tapered effect. This is a situation becoming more common in the wallers world where they have to work as a mason but without mortar. Here in Scotland there are two seperate crafts which are overlapping . Quite a challenge for me perhaps I could get some lessons from you Jim?