Dragonfly Community Foundation

The DCF supports building for communities in 2 capacities; funding construction projects and knowledge-sharing.

Construction Projects

Construction projects using standard materials and technologies (these days, generally concrete and steel) can be prohibitively costly. For small, community-level projects, it is difficult to find funding for buildings and often the finished product is more of a compromise due to cost than the needed structure.

Conversely, sustainable technologies used wherever possible (adobe bricks, for example) can prove to be sturdy and stable, cost-effective alternatives. In addition, these materials can be very low in energy input and managed to minimize environmental damage.

The DCF provides funding for small-scale, sustainable technology builds in order to provide shelters for families and community groups such as schools and orphanages, and also helps to raise funds for emergency reconstruction when needed. We also arrange volunteer-driven building projects which are used both as instructional workshops and as means to bring labour and funding together from many sources to provide otherwise unattainable structures. We hope that the buildings constructed will provide starting points for community development and environmental awareness.

Please have a look at our:

Upcoming Building Projects and

Past Building Projects

Knowledge Sharing

The building work of the DCF focuses on the use of locally appropriate technology and sustainable materials, as well as alternative energy production. We work to support other groups in spreading expertise and information about alternative building methods to all who are interested. This means supporting training and educational programs, as well as enabling interested parties to gain hands-on experience with alternative techniques.

We work with the follwing materials and technologies wherever possible:

• Adobe (mud brick) and cob (mud and straw sculpting)
• Bamboo + grass thatch and other renewable natural materials
• Composting toilets
• Re-used post-consumer materials (glass, plastic bottles, scrap lumber, etc.)

If you would like to share information about alternative materials and techniques, please contact us!