Nyange cooperative get boost in tile making business

A team of engineering students from Santa Clara University travelled again this year to assist PICO Rwanda leaders in Nyange improve their tile making technology. Much of their week in Nyange was devoted to strengthening the tile press to make it more efficient and recalibrating the bicycle-driven clay mixer which was designed last year. The students also began to study ways in which clay can be transported nearly a half mile up a steep hill to be processed. With these improvements, along with a storage shed and a kiln to be built soon on land secured from the government, the Nyange tile making cooperative hopes to be open for business in the next year. Progress is slow but steady. Thanks to Santa Clara Engineers without Borders Club and the generous contributions from the Chicago Donor Circle who make this possible.