Kenya Complete Cob Roundhouse for Agatha Amani House Farm (Naivasha)

Date/Time
Date(s) - Sunday, February 9, 2025 - Sunday, March 16, 2025
8:30 am - 5:30 pm

A PERSONAL WORD FROM CLAUDINE….

 

I am so excited that CruzinCobGlobal will be back on the vibrant and diverse continent of Africa after an 8-year hiatus. We led several multicultural Cob workshops in Senegal and Morocco between 2015 & 2016, building bungalows and ovens, and half a dozen full-builds between 2016 and 2022 in Cabo Verde, the African islands off the coast of Senegal. Now we have a long-awaited opportunity to be hosted in the East African highlands of Naivasha, Kenya, by local community leader and change agent Nyakio Kaniu-Lake. Nyakio and her team of volunteers at Agatha Amani House Farm are all women sheltered with their children from domestic violent households, who hail mostly from rural and inner city areas. They stay for a year and learn life and personal skills while living in a powerful communal therapeutic setting with trained facilitators. We are wanting to create a workshop consisting of students coming from outside of Kenya, from all over Kenya, and of course from the immediate local community. We will be creating a GoFundMe fundraiser to support low-income and no-income highly motivated Kenyan applicants to attend with an appropriately-reduced tuition, and welcome all donations by students, organizations and other funding sources to make this happen. The gifts received by students of our transformational workshops are long-term and life-changing on all levels: personal, physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. They open Hearts and Souls to believe in the reality of living an abundant and successful life lived true to one’s personal calling.

 

OUR HOST

 

I am Nyakio Kaniu-Lake, the Director of Agatha Amani House, a counseling psychologist and certified permaculture designer, permaculture-trained teacher and ecovillage design education certified.  I am a Permaculture Enthusiast and an anti-abuse activist. I guess I could say I am an Eco-feminist. I was born and raised in Kenya and did my university education in the US.
I empower women and girls and their children, that are survivors of sexual and domestic violence, to reach their full potential and become agents of change towards a world void of violence and abuse. 

I am the Founding Director of Agatha Amani House (https://www.agathaamanihouse.org/our-work.html), a shelter for survivors of sexual and domestic violence in Naivasha, Kenya, where we steward the women’s Souls as we steward the land. Professionally I’m a Psychologist and use both traditional Psychotherapy and Permaculture, including Emotional Permaculture as trauma healing for our survivors of abuse. I discovered Permaculture 7 years ago. For 3 years all the permaculture I initially did at the shelter was learned through internet searches and from a few permaculture friends I had made along the way, until I got a scholarship to a PDC (permaculture design course) 4 years ago. Since then I have implemented permaculture practices at Agatha Amani House and can proudly say we are a zero waste fully functioning permaculture shelter and farm. I also want to create an Ecovillage intentional community and am seeking to attract the know-how and funds.  So happy to have found Claudine!

Agatha Amani House(AAH) is a grassroots safe shelter for women and their children who are victims of sexual and domestic violence and abuse devoted to healing humans and healing creation.  The shelter has integrated climate change mitigation in its strategic plan and in all its operations and takes pride in practicing and teaching permaculture both to the housed residents and other community members for healing, restoration and awareness.

The mission of AAH is to partner with the land and the community to educate, heal, and transform all who visit. A unique element of AAH is its teaching in which children, youth and interns learn biodiversity critical to our region. We are aware of climate change and its high impact on those in need, so AAH has committed ourselves as partners, learning from one another how to heal creation and to bring healing to humans through hands-on engagement with the earth. We lovingly steward the Souls of women, children, and young adults as we steward the land. We witness how hands-on engagement with creation brings healing. We would like to be a hub for Learning, Training and Healing while promoting Ubuntu, our native Life Philosophy!  Naivasha is home to flower farms. Pollutants release harmful and excessive quantities of gases into the earth’s atmosphere. Our semi-arid regions are characterized by water shortages, overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, poor soils and poor waste disposal. And we want to make a difference.

Agatha Amani House was born out of a pressing need to address the pervasive issue of domestic and sexual violence in Kenya. The journey began with a vision shared by compassionate individuals who witnessed the devastating effects of sexual and domestic violence on women and children in these communities. Many victims, with nowhere to turn, found themselves trapped in cycles of abuse, poverty, and despair. The Founding members of AAH were deeply moved by the stories of resilience and courage among survivors, yet recognized the critical gap in resources and support systems available to them. Fueled by a commitment to make a tangible

difference, they embarked on a mission to create a sanctuary—a place where victims could not only find refuge but also reclaim their dignity, rebuild their lives, and rediscover hope. Located in the Naivasha region of Kenya, AAH stands as a grassroots safe home, offering not only immediate refuge but also a longer-term sanctuary where survivors can heal and rebuild their lives along with their children.

As the first of its kind in Kenya, AAH has evolved into a thriving community dedicated to holistic healing, empowerment, and self-sufficiency. The organization’s founders believe that true recovery requires more than just physical shelter.  It needs to address the emotional, psychological, and economic aspects of each survivor’s journey. Thus, AAH was designed not only as a safe haven but as a comprehensive support system. Through a range of programs, including trauma-informed counseling, skills training (agriculture, natural building, etc), and economic empowerment, AAH has become a pillar of hope for countless women and children. Over the years, it has grown from a small initiative into a well-respected institution, fostering a community where survivors can thrive and contribute to society.

At the heart of Agatha Amani House is our commitment to empowering the residents through a comprehensive support system that addresses both their immediate and long-term needs. We provide a wide range of services, including Safe Shelter, Counseling and Psychological Support, Skills Training and Economic Empowerment, Educational Support, Healthcare Services, Life Skills Development, and Reintegration Support. Through these programs, survivors learn essential life skills that foster economic independence and resilience. The farm at AAH plays a critical role in this process, offering a therapeutic space where women reconnect with nature, gain practical agricultural skills, and become stewards of the land. By integrating sustainable living and building practices into our operations, we prepare residents not only to reintegrate successfully into society but also to become ambassadors of sustainability within their communities.

 

LOCATION

 

Agatha Amani House is nestled in the picturesque Naivasha region of Kenya, a place known for its natural beauty and rich history. Naivasha, meaning “rippling waters,” is famous for its horticultural farming and stunning landscapes. The region boasts the only freshwater lake in the East Rift Valley, surrounded by opportunities for hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing. Naivasha is also one of the largest producers of cut flowers in the world. February and March bring mild and pleasant weather, with cool mornings and evenings and warm afternoons, perfect for both learning and relaxation. To stay comfortable, we recommend dressing in layers, wearing sturdy shoes, and bringing sun protection along with refillable water bottles.

After workshop hours and on weekends, participants have plenty of opportunities to explore and unwind. The afternoons can be spent taking peaceful walks around our property, reflecting, or simply enjoying the tranquil atmosphere of our gardens. For those looking to venture further on the weekends, you can enjoy affordable safaris. There are lots of activities around the lake and the surrounding areas including visiting cultural landmarks like the Elsamere Conservatory by Lake Naivasha, and immersing in the vibrant traditions of the Maasai community.

 

GALLERY

 

THE PROJECT

 

We will be building a 14m2/150ft2 round Cob Community Sacred Space for the residents and mentors of the Agatha Amani House Farm to meet as a community for Council Circles, Healing Work, classes, trainings, meditation, ceremonies and other personal activities . The reciprocal roof we build in all of our workshops symbolizes an interdependent community in which all are equal at their essence.  It is the strongest roof there is due to its interlocking spiral structure, which reflects the individuals sitting together below and the strength of their interconnection. It represents the horizontal social structure favored in indigenous and traditional societies.

The 35-day Advanced Cob Building Workshop consists of 25 days (Monday through Friday) of learning & construction for 4 hours in the morning and 3 hours in the afternoon with theoretical instruction (lectures with graphics) on most Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons to complement the hands-on experience.

Students arrive on Sunday between noon and 2pm and settle in. The workshop begins at 4pm with the Opening Circle followed by a Host Site Orientation and Introduction to the Project. Dinner is served at 6pm, and will be followed by an Introduction to the 5-week Workshop by Instructor Claudine Desiree and Assistant Tania de Froberville.  Monday morning we begin digging the trench for our Cob Building!!!!

Following Breakfast from 7:30-8:15am, the morning learning/building session begins at 8:30 am and lasts until 1pm with a 20-minute snack pause at 11am. Lunch break is from 1pm to 2:30pm, which includes a rest time before the 3-hour afternoon session begins. Most Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays there is a 60-minute lecture, followed by another session of construction and demonstrations. Tuesdays and Thursdays students begin the building and learning session again right after the rest time. After class in the afternoon there is a 90-minute break before dinner (served from 7pm to 8pm), in which students are encouraged to stretch, do some type of relaxation/movement practice, go swimming, walking and just relax.

There is sometimes a work trade student officially or informally leading yoga and movement practice in the mornings or afternoons (depending on student preference). There will also be 3-4 evenings (once a week) after dinner for showing slides, videos and having Course-related discussions. Other evenings are mostly free and sometimes students offer informal courses in their specialties and passions and we will also enjoy local music and dance, fire, singing and whatever other surprises our Host Nyakio has in store for the group. Tuesdays are reserved for our weekly Council Circle, where we do a deeper sharing and listening to attend to the inner worlds of our students, staff & Host(s).  This is a required and essential element of our workshops to keep a balance between the physical work and emotional/spiritual needs that will come up, in a safe and intimate setting.

On weekends students are free to explore the area, rest onsite, and even continue building, subject to Instructor approval.  All weekend meals are provided by students themselves, who are welcome to use the kitchen.  Host and/or other students can carpool into town for weekend food provisions.  Students are encouraged to visit the surroundings and eat in local eateries and will be guided by Nyakio.  Also there will be information and transport options available for those who want to go on weekend getaways to see other parts of Kenya.  These are always an additional cost of course.

The 35-day Course will offer practical learning by building a complete 15m2  curvilinear building from foundation to roof, as 
described in the “Project” section. Those who complete the 35-day Workshop will receive an Advanced Cobber Certificate of Completion for Foundation, Cob Walls (which includes Door, Windows, Shelves, Art, Electrical Housing & Plumbing preparation), Floor, Plaster & Roof.  Students who have to miss more than ONE day of the workshop will receive a temporary partial Certificate naming the parts they have completed and will need to complete all the missed time in another workshop to get the final Certificate.

 

 

DAILY SCHEDULE

 

The Advanced Cob Building Workshop begins on a Sunday at 4pm and ends on a Sunday, 5 weeks later, after the morning Closing Circle & Brunch. International students should arrive a day or two before Sunday to acclimate and settle in (please let us know) but will need to cover their own food
 needs unless a work trade or payment option is approved by Host (to be decided closer to the date).

The daily schedule (subject to slight modifications due to climate/time of year) will be:


7:30-8:15 Breakfast


8:30-1:00 Class


1:00-2:30 Lunch


2:30-5:30 Class (Lecture on MWF’s)


5:30-7:00 Rest/Yoga


7:00-8:00 Dinner


8:00-9:00 Slides/Videos/Discussion (once a week)

Students are expected to be ON TIME and participate in ALL sessions and required activities as the goal of completing a full construction depends on the whole group being present and working together: physically, energetically, emotionally.

 

 

COURSE CONTENTS

 

Students will learn every phase of building a cob building from foundation through the reciprocal roof in hands-on building and lectures/theory. In addition to the lectures,
slideshows and videos will be shown to support and enhance their understanding of cob materials, cob building, design, geography, budgeting, business options and legal issues.

Our hands-on practice will include:

digging foundation trench
pouring gravel and inserting drainage pipe (if applicable)
building foundation stemwall
analyzing soils and materials
making test bricks
deciding on correct mixture
deciding on best location
making cob w/ partner and solo
building with cob
preparing and inserting the door
preparing and inserting fixed and opening windows
preparing and inserting shelves
inserting bottle windows, glass and other objects
inserting electrical housing and outlet/switch boxes (when applicable)*
insert PVC pipe for plumbing in walls (when applicable)*
sculpting
preparing and applying earthen plaster (1 coat)
pouring an earthen floor (2 coats)
preparing walls for roof connection
building reciprocal roof frame
putting on roof sheathing and other elements
installing green roof
making small-scale cob designs of future projects, time permitting

In addition to Cob Building practices, the Course material
also includes:

legal cob construction practices & the international cob code (Appendix AU in the IRC)
cost analysis
creating a cob business (building/teaching)
assisting, interning and teaching with CruzinCobGlobal

*While the insertion of electrical housing and one or more outlet/switch boxes and PVC pipes to hold plumbing are always included in the workshops, the simplicity or complexity depends on the host’s design and preferences. There will be no electrical wiring or plumbing pipes installed during workshop. That is beyond the focus of this course and requires professional experience and certification/licensing.

 

REQUIREMENTS & IMPORTANT INFORMATION

 

Students will need to come prepared for demanding physical work from Day 1.

This includes bringing:

Work clothes appropriate for the country and climate we are in
Work boots or other closed-toe shoes (for foundation and roof)
Flip-flops (for cobbing/plaster days)
Rubber dishwashing gloves (for lime mortar)
Work Gloves (for stone work)
Tape Measure
Box Cutter
Wood Hand Saw (cheap)*
Level (2ft)*
Hammer*
Japanese plastering trowel(s) (email:goldhillclayplaster@gmail.com)
Ear Plugs (roof week)
Wood Chisel*
4”-6” Diameter Round Plastic Container Lids (for plastering)
Good Moisturizer
Hat
Sunglasses
Water Bottle
Notebook/Pen/Camera
Safety Glasses
Carpenter Pencil & Sharpener
Sample of your Soil (optional)

Any other power tools like skillsaw, grinder with metal blade, cordless drill, chop saw…will be very welcome if you are driving in and able to bring them.

*These tools will be very helpful to bring if you can, to minimize sharing and waiting, but if you can’t because you are flying in, the Host will provide them of course.

 

 

***VERY IMPORTANT INFO***

 

These workshops are designed for people that want to learn how to build a complete structure from start to finish in a professional manner and timeframe. They are very intensive and, while we make time for yoga, stretching, dancing, music, relaxing….all students are expected to be present and participating in ALL building and lecture learning hours unless absolutely incapable due to illness or have some other significant/emergency reason. This is because we design the size of the building
 and organize the structure of the workshop in accordance with the number of students we will have, and when people are absent it impacts the whole group and the other students have to work harder. In addition Instructors try to set up building work according to students’ preferences and learning needs.

We need and depend on everyone’s full participation in each day of the workshop.  This is a total group effort on all levels:  physically, mentally, emotionally and energetically.. If someone is physically absent from the site and lectures due to illness or other urgency for more than one full day, they will need to make up the days missed in a subsequent workshop to receive the complete Certificate (and will only pay food costs).  If physically injured or ill (and capable), it is requested students be present at the site and for lecture and other required evening activities to not miss out on information and learning by observation, and to qualify for the Certificate.  For those who have any disabilities that may interfere with these requirements and would like to participate in the workshop, please contact Claudine.

The workshop intensity changes from week 1 to week 5 with the focus of the week. The first foundation week breaks people in with the work of moving, lifting, rolling and placing rocks and is a new and demanding physical experience for most students. It also includes 
the first layers and coat of cob floor. The second week and part of the third week of cob making and building are similar to the rock foundation week in physical demand but are more flowing and active in movement and cardiovascular exercise. On Thursday & Friday of week 3, the workshop takes a turn and slows down and the body can rest as students their creative source now and design and sculpt the walls and around niches, shelves, windows, etc.  This is a very special rewarding experience and time of the workshop, decorating the walls with visual beauty and meaning as expressed by each unique student.  Usually there is an overarching theme decided on by Host(s) but sometimes students are free to create the theme and design and present to Host.

Plastering follows sculpting and is also an enjoyable more lightweight physical experience that lends itself to talking and sharing at the wall in a meditative rhythm as the students have bonded and shared deeply through a variety of experiences for a month. On day 5 of week 4, the roof begins.  This part is the beginning of a change of pace from the earthen building work to carpentry skills, power tools, drilling, hammering, screwing, trimming, etc. But now the workshop is in its final stretch and there is a boost of energy to wrap up the roof, close the top of the wall, and tend to finishing touches….the grand finale.  The group also begins the process of letting go and tending to the new relations they have made and talking about the future.

For students wanting a more mellow slow-paced cob experience along with time for personal exploration and experimentation, these workshops are not for you. However you can find a more suitable workshop online with other organizations that are usually for a
 shorter period building a garden wall, a bench, a compost toilet or some other smaller scale project.

Students are required to read “The Hand-Sculpted House” and “Essential Cob Construction” (see website Resources page) before the workshop begins and any other books they find or listed on our Resources page, ideally on plastering and reciprocal roof building, as well as watching our “International Cob Workshop” videos on Claudine’s YouTube channel, the new educational YouTube series “Building a Mud Home” by Cooper Green, posted by Natural Buildings and created from our North Carolina workshop footage, and the ones posted on CruzinCobGlobal’s website under Gallery/Videos, to get an idea of what is expected. Also it is a great idea to watch as many other videos on cob and reciprocal roofs as you can, to come mentally prepared. Please bring your book(s).

Students must tend to their own personal needs, drink alot of water, rest when needed and exert themselves at a steady pace. Students who cannot do the strenuous physical work should let us know when registering so we can make sure the workshop is a good fit. If approved before the workshop begins, we can adjust appropriately. It is totally OK to come for the lecture/theory part, and sometimes help the building part in less physically
 demanding ways if you have physical limitations, ie cutting straw, sifting for plaster, hammering nails into frames or shelves, sculpting, plastering, cutting bottles. There is alot to do to support making and building with cob!!!!  But this has to be discussed and approved with Claudine so it does not impact the schedule of construction.

Finally, please bring a watch or use your phone to be prompt and ready for each part of the Course including meals. Please make sure you share your dietary restrictions/allergies with CCG in your registration form. Note that very demanding dietary needs will not be
 able to be met (vegan & non-gluten ok) and those students may be recommended not to participate unless they are willing to meet their special needs on their own, which will not include kitchen access on weekdays. Please discuss with Claudine at time of desire to register. Also please bring your essential snacks and foods, pillow and whatever you NEED to be comfortable and happy. Feel free to also bring playlists, speaker, slides, videos,
movies and books to share, as well as a sample of your soil to test.

We look forward to opening you to a whole new world of experience, skill, growth and transformation as you bond with your new international COB family for life!

 

MEALS & ACCOMMODATIONS

 

We will serve three meals a day from Monday through Friday including the Welcome and Celebration Dinners and Farewell Brunch.  Weekends students will be on their own for food and may use the onsite kitchen.  Meals will be vegetarian and locally-based as much as possible, including farm produce and eggs!

We will attend to vegan and gluten-free diets if needed but any other restrictions & allergies that require extensive preparation needs will not be able to be honored. And kitchen will only be accessible on weekends for students.

Camping in your own tent is free and available for everyone.  Please bring your camping gear. Our host is also offering 8 bunkbeds (first come first serve) in the soon-to-be-finished Cob Guest House.  The fee will be 6€/night. Students can buy camping gear or just blankets in Nairobi with the help of our host if they dont want to travel with it.

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

International students will fly into Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) in Nairobi and will be shuttled (paid separately) to the workshop site in Naivasha on Saturday. If a group of students or all students choose to arrive on Friday, we will organize the transport for Friday.  Students can also take a taxi ($65) to the site.  The cost of the shuttle will be posted soon. The distance to the site is only 100km. Students should arrive either Friday or Saturday and can eat with the residents before the workshop for a small fee or choose to have meals prepared for a larger fee or bring their own food to make.

 

COB INSTRUCTOR

Founder and Director of CruzinCobGlobal, Claudine Desiree has been well-known in the world of Cob Workshops for 20 years, since holding her first workshop in her downtown Santa Cruz, California home in 2004.  After many years in California teaching shorter-format workshops, in which part of a building was built or finished, while holding many careers and raising her three sons, she launched her GlobalCobTrotter Tour in December of 2014, and realized a life-long dream of traveling the world by bike for an extended period of time. To keep earning a living while combining her two passions, she decided to organize cob workshops on the road in all the countries she wanted to bike to and through.  The journey ended up going for 5 years in which 30 workshops in 15 countries were held, in Africa, South America,

Europe and the US. The new CruzinCobGlobal was born in 2015 with a website and a new seriousness and organization and consistency that have, together with the unusual goal of building a complete cob cottage in 5 weeks from feet to head and all the fixins in between, brought CCG its global reputation as the only and best complete and intensive professional cob training in the world today. 

At this point, and after creating her first Cob Ecovillage, “Quinta da Vida Beleza” from 2020 to 2023 in the Azores, with workshop students and others, she has now stepped back from the teaching role to honor and train her best students on this path.  However, when the workshop takes place in a new location of interest, like Kenya, she may decide to step in for old time’s sake, to keep stoking her passion and love of international cob teaching!

 

COB ASSISTANT

Coming from a tiny paradise island in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Mauritius Island, Tania de Froberville grew up surrounded by nature and a bunch of different cultures. Her childhood was spent building sand castles and treehouses, dreaming of one day being able to build her own house. As a lost 18 year-old she went to France and studied graphic design. Back in Mauritius she quickly evolved and worked as a freelance event decorator and interior designer. What she loved about it was  building decor with her own hands, refurbishing old furniture and creating a space where people felt safe and happy.

In her own words: Cob entered my life in August 2023, when I signed up to volunteer at Claudine’s Quinta da Vida Beleza in the Azores, thinking that I would spend my time weeding her property and found myself surrounded by mud houses. People will say it’s luck, I think it’s destiny. Seeing what a great weeder I was, she quickly proposed that I replaster one of her cob houses. When I first started playing with mud it felt like I finally found something that I was looking for, for a very long time. I immediately signed up for the next workshop that took place in January 2024 in Puerto Rico. During this workshop my love and interest for cob grew wider and deeper as did my love for the community that shares this passion with me.

For me cob is coming back to basics in a complicated world, connecting with nature, people and yourself. But it’s also creating a shelter for others, a safe space, where love and joy can be shared and spread.  I am so excited to continue on this path and since my Puerto Rico workshop have helped friends build their cob house in Mauritius, attended a Plaster Festival in the UK and worked on a few plaster projects afterwards.  I am also assisting Viva Hansen in part of an Outdoor Kitchen Workshop in the Azores this Fall while learning new elements like the Oven and Rocket Stove as well, so that I can continue to fill up my toolbelt with all the skills I can get for my budding global Cob career.

 

REGISTRATION & PAYMENT

 

Very Early Bird Rate: 2250€, paid in full by November 9th, 2024

Early Bird Rate: 2350€, paid in full by December 31st, 2024

Standard Rate: 2450€, paid in full by January 26th, 2025

We are offering 4 work trade positions which give you a 250€ discount on either food or tuition for working one hour each weekday supporting the site before breakfast or preparing & putting away breakfast. Two doing breakfast and two onsite.  These are the first options to go. Depending on when you pay in full, the discount is taken off the appropriate amount.

Payment can be made in Euros using Wise to CruzinCobGlobal at the following IBAN: BE44 9673 1046 6145 or to claudinedesiree@gmail.com at Venmo, Paypal (including the transaction fee) or Zelle with current Euro to USD conversion.

Please contact claudine@cruzincobglobal.org or on Whatsapp +1(831) 212-7225 to register and ask any questions.

To hold your spot (there are 12 for new students and 3 for returning students), you can make a 50% deposit.  The balance owed depends on the date of payment in full. Final payment deadline is January 26th, 2025.

 

CANCELLATION POLICY

 

Students who have paid and cancel by December 9th, 2024 can get a full refund minus a 5% administrative/inconvenience fee on the amount they have paid.

Students who have paid and cancel by January 9th, 2025 will receive a credit for a future workshop within two years minus a 10% administrative/inconvenience fee.

Students who have paid and cancel after January 9th, 2025 will NOT receive a refund or credit unless they have proof of an emergency situation or other reason out of their control, in which case they will receive a credit for two years minus the 10% admin fee.

 

CAN’T WAIT TO GET MUDDY WITH YOU!!!!

 

 

Location: Agatha Amani Farm