The Djiboutian Red Crescent Society (DRCS) held a two-day Superadobe Training Seminar in partnership with a team from the U.S. Army 418th Civil Affairs Battalion, Charlie Company, October 28, 2010.

U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Joshua Erickson, a graduate of The California Institute of Earth Art and Architecture (Cal-Earth) Superadobe training course, led volunteers through step-by-step instruction, which provided students with the fundamental skills to build a dome. Each student worked on an example dome at the DRCS compound in Balbala.

Volunteers from around Djibouti, including representatives from the cities of Obock, Tadjoura, Balbala and Dikhil, as well as female Red Crescent volunteers participated in the seminar.

"Acquiring this skill will enable these students to be able to build their own structure in their community as well as allow them to train others how to build a structure," stated Red Crescent Secretary General, Abdi Khaireh, who passed out certificates of achievement to the 15 students that completed the seminar.

An Ecodome structure consists of sandbags filled with earth, placed in layers or long coils, with strands of barbed wire placed between them for reinforcement against the elements. Sergeant Erickson and a team of military volunteers recently built an example structure on base at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.

Many expressed their desire to teach others what they learned. "I would like to finish this house and assist on future projects in my village," stated Moustapha Osman, a Red Crescent volunteer.