https://www.tfrain.org/contact-us daily 0.75 2024-03-24 https://www.tfrain.org/home-1 daily 1.0 2025-02-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1608431440904-AICSJT57UD06ISVPP9UU/IMG_3678.JPG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1614785566243-FSRNHOUBEIVYHEWAAZ02/shutterstock_22909372%2Bwater%2Bpipe.jpg Home - When a community gets access to clean water, the opportunities are endless for a better future Rainwater in these densely developed areas rapidly becomes flood water on a one way trip to the Congo River. Terra Firma designs and builds simple, cost-effective systems to collect and store rainwater to provide fresh water to homes. Community-oriented solutions creating access to domestic water drives social and economic change that changes lives. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1609992327635-M5WF2QVNB4ISLL5MZM8I/shutterstock_1338542039+grow+veggies+%28compressed%29.jpg Home - Be a Part of the Solution Each roof is an opportunity to turn rainwater into hope for millions of families. From personal use to backyard agriculture and other entrepreneurial ideas, fresh water provides a foundation of choice for families in an age of climate uncertainty. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1637261d-3624-49ae-a177-ed499934fd20/IMG_8993.JPG Home - Big Challenges, Bigger Opportunity The opportunity to transform a destructive force into a beneficial one with a cost-effective solution is rare. Our designs are scalable from neighborhoods to cities with millions of residents, and from retrofits to new home construction. With the population of Africa expected to double by 2050, primarily in larger cities, now is the time to address climate challenges while providing families with access to the lifeblood for success: fresh water. https://www.tfrain.org/learn-more-urban-erosion-flooding-1 daily 0.75 2021-03-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1608756129138-ZMXNMX4Q5OWABWWXKQKJ/IMG_3649%281%29.JPG Learn More - Urban Erosion Flooding The remains of a concrete roadside ditch suspended in the air. This entire area was once flat ground; now it is a 50-foot deep ravine. https://www.tfrain.org/learn-more-prototype-1 daily 0.75 2023-07-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1609087260639-9L88IE5SVW2XPYK34MEE/V1a.jpg Learn More - Prototype https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1609087806724-QFJ05N6RTZ54ONZB6GAB/V3.0.jpg Learn More - Prototype https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/c6b9c4d2-e84c-4ade-913e-cb08571eaed3/V3.0Patented.jpg Learn More - Prototype https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/84f16213-29b2-4bc6-b957-eb31abf7760e/IMG_8997.JPG Learn More - Prototype https://www.tfrain.org/who-we-are1 daily 0.75 2024-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/fbb53c36-1690-487e-a32b-8f109b3af01b/IMG_8959.JPG Who We Are Desire Bisimwa - Board of Directors, CEEDD, Kinshasa, DRC https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1638151567683-ORHX54HYS6OGUT7MXYM4/Erica.jpg Who We Are Erica Borum - Terra Firma Board Member https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1609178605654-1782E6MIYDGALZRFSHVZ/Catherine.png Who We Are Catherine Chabernaud - Atelier Kolinga Architects, Congo-Brazzaville https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/0c59ee36-0950-4b96-8759-f2060ef14d20/Screenshot+2022-11-14+at+8.18.47+PM.png Who We Are Rosette Louemba, Communications Director, CEEDD Kinshasa, DRC https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1638150968314-QHLUTH5BAKCCKICUO43O/IMG_8963.jpg Who We Are Eric Lutete Landu - Board Chairman, CEEDD, Kinshasa, DRC https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1638151157188-3H3FKTBI807ND6GDLLSK/IMG_8958.jpg Who We Are Affermi Kufinu - Executive Board Coordinator, CEEDD, Kinshasa, DRC https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1638151332061-HNP9K6TOF4Q11TH2G3CN/IMG_8956.jpg Who We Are Lise-Olga Makonga -Project Coordinator, Eco Ecole, & CEEDD Kinshasa, DRC https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1608693865834-S4V3FKSSDE689URP3XR6/Issac.jpg Who We Are Issac Moussa - Technical Program Manager, USFS International Programs, Congo-Brazzaville https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1610943748714-FKKFP3YBNPD6DSK7OR3Z/Jethro+Munvudi.jpg Who We Are Jethro Munvudi - Project Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Eco-Ecole, Kinshasa, DRC https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1610943656857-LH8JTQGWD8K4P16EG1EV/Fabrice+Nikuna.jpg Who We Are Fabrice Nikuna - Board of Directors, CEEDD, Kinshasa, DRC https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1608693825260-W9XUJKAUCXUO09UIYHIG/Richard.jpg Who We Are Richard Paton - Central Africa and Middle East Regional Coordinator, USFS International Programs, Washington, DC https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1600028836632-VSM2V0FKR1U591G37M2F/terra-firma-rainwater-collective-Roger-Poirier.png Who We Are Roger Poirier - Terra Firma Board Member, Colorado, USA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1611512173723-IN3KNGPBKEC3LD1CA9IW/IMG_2303%2B%25281%2529.jpg Who We Are Mary Rogan - Terra Firma Board Member, Oregon, USA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1609177640592-MN6J1YXDZKIJO6I2IGL7/Mark.jpg Who We Are Mark Weinhold - Terra Firma Founder and Board Member, Colorado, USA https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1609204388478-CJBYAD6BP9UKDKG73WDP/Exauce2crop.jpg Who We Are Exauce Yoka - Program Assistant, USFS International Programs, Congo-Brazzaville https://www.tfrain.org/our-approach daily 0.75 2024-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1614960289789-7BCQ94HU9RC32LETCQIY/Simple+System+text.jpg Our Approach - Catching the Rain Every resident benefits from collecting, storing and utilizing the vast amounts of rainfall that arrive during the rainy season. Because the majority of residential roofs in Kinshasa and Brazzaville are made from sheets of corrugated metal, Terra Firma has developed easy-to-install, affordable and adaptable gutter hangers that quickly attach to corrugated metal roofs. We work with engineers, manufacturers and homeowners to develop unique catchment and collection systems. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1611523127744-FCWTPC5TYV55K9C284WI/house_gutter2.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1611515416987-2JN51W02WPM7TJANCRLS/DSC_0850+%281%29.jpg Our Approach - Getting the Word Out We work with local university and community leaders to educate residents on the relationship of rain, drainage, erosion, household water and food supply. Our educators want every community member to clearly understand three critical aspects of water: Urban growth creates more impermeable surfaces and an even greater need for stormwater management to control massive runoff during the monsoons. Rainwater collection systems reduce runoff while providing domestic water and the opportunity for urban agriculture. Climate change is intensifying the monsoons. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1614915294901-NQOQJTZ8MS0FYFIQU8BQ/IMG_3674.jpg Our Approach - Seeing is Believing As the big picture of monsoonal rains and catastrophic erosion comes into focus, individuals see clearly that the best decision for their household is also best for their community. To create system and policy changes, Terra Firma is working with universities as well as local and regional governments to assist with large-scale stormwater master planning and sustainability projects. We link young student/experts in engineering and planning with local municipalities in dire need of technical expertise. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1611515304332-0B4VU0DLCCPO2SCJTTX0/Manufacture+2.jpg Our Approach - Focus on Local Entrepreneurs Terra Firma works with local businesses, community leaders and governments to solve water supply and urban flooding issues. Neighborhood demonstration projects show the functionality and effectiveness of rainwater collection while providing opportunities for local entrepreneurs to manufacture, install, and maintain systems. Supporting small businesses to grow the capacity to meet demand as installation projects expand will ensure long-term success for all. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1609091684208-J3CD23LPO86DL0RGE77H/Women+Permaculture.jpg Our Approach - Empowering Women We recognize the gender disparity in income opportunities . Collected water allows for urban farming at the household-scale. Small plots that were once compacted bare ground can be converted to areas of high value crops to be consumed or sold at local farmer’s markets. This program follow in the footsteps of proven successes like the United Nation’s Growing Greener Cities initiative in Kinshasa, DRC. https://www.tfrain.org/our-story daily 0.75 2024-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1613193764492-IVSRXSG97Z1R9011NH1T/terra-firma-rainwater-collective.png The Issue https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1613194957815-BAQJJFZIJCQACA3TP08Z/Brazzaville%2B1.jpg The Issue https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1608744815147-POLQ1BIIOV0BI6KJ7FH6/Africa+Map+Cropped.jpg The Issue - Monsoon Rains are the driver… The issues of flooding, urban erosion and seasonal water supply are common across large parts of monsoonal equatorial Africa. Our initial effort is to create meaningful change and community engagement in the cities of Brazzaville (Republic of Congo) and Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo). The lessons learned through community-scale demonstration projects will eventually be exported to other affected areas. Our network of government and NGO partners are well established in these communities, ensuring we are effectively supporting local people employing local solutions to address local problems. https://www.tfrain.org/projects daily 0.75 2024-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1595365362126-JTX4PRRV6NVXNS5WYWDM/terra-firma-rainwater-collective-Atelier-Kolinga-Architects+.png Projects https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1611512104944-Q1C3FLWIRZJYJUECE7Y4/DSC_0758.jpg Projects - Environmental Education At Terra Firma, we fully believe that educating today’s youth is the best offense to face the challenges of tomorrow. Centre d’Etude Environnementales pour le Développement Durable (CEEDD)’s Eco-Ecole program provides environmental education opportunities for school kids in Kinshasa, DRC focused on the urban erosion that surrounds them. Eco-Ecole uses a hands-on curriculum to demonstrate the causes of the urban erosion threatening their community and school as well as the student’s role in the solution! Activities range from simulating rainfall and erosion to promoting vegetation growth on bare ground and urban gardening. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1609181089921-FEAFWPLDZMM2FZE3NUAE/IMG_6517.JPG Projects - Expanding Ideas At this community center in Kinshasa, a group of young adults installed a rainwater collection system to demonstrate the benefits of rainwater management. This same group also collects funds in the community to spearhead road repair work, often employing at-risk youth in an effort to positively affect lives. These young people are Kinshasa’s future leaders and perfect candidates to create entrepreneurial ventures that will provide livelihoods while moving toward a solution to ongoing erosion threats. Terra Firma supports local efforts such as these with technical and financial assistance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1595367825406-2B4ZTWEX4YGBFDPXZMCW/terra-firma-rainwater-collective-Atelier-Kolinga-Architects-2.png Projects - Vegetated catchment areas to promote rainwater infiltration Since rooftops are not the only impermeable surfaces creating runoff, we also stress the importance of maintaining infiltration rates in soils and providing infiltration mechanisms. Since churches are often the center of local communities, we work with local church leaders to make their own compounds ‘runoff neutral’, in this case by providing vegetated low areas as infiltration zones. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/1595367852911-BCOVKON046YGHIBAT223/terra-firma-rainwater-collective-Atelier-Kolinga-Architects-3.png Projects - Low tech solutions to encourage infiltration into native sandy soils At a smaller scale, local homeowners used discarded tires to construct an infiltration gallery. These are simple examples of the existing ingenuity that we aim to foster and promote. https://www.tfrain.org/take-action daily 0.75 2024-11-22 https://www.tfrain.org/field daily 0.75 2024-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/b90a99e2-5f6c-4c3e-8b89-441d5a114b63/f4ddc5e0d91c46b5b6387a277113de73.jpeg Field Updates - Make it stand out A new collection tank installed in Kinshasa in 2023. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/5b483303-ba32-4114-b097-147d0db36977/596434498ca74c94aad6f04153e343e4.jpeg Field Updates - Make it stand out Who knew an injection mold for plastics was so complicated? These two pieces slide together to form the mold. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/9c10edfb-15dc-4119-bb15-a05a287253b8/unnamed1.jpeg Field Updates - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/c7913778-1bf1-4067-9d43-100dd9c0e932/unnamed2.jpeg Field Updates - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/e836c9b9-37ac-4bac-99e1-05a8abf47f79/unnamed3.jpeg Field Updates - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/0adbf8b5-84c7-450a-a0fd-b327e9f5ed97/unnamed4.jpeg Field Updates - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/628657a7-0afa-4d57-bb5b-e10998e958fa/unnamed5.jpeg Field Updates https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/160406ad-90fd-4670-b942-eee7fea5e9d7/TF+Award.jpeg Field Updates - Terra Firma selected for UN Award Program! We are excited to announce that Terra Firma has been been awarded a place in the UNOPS S3i Startup Incubation Program for 2022. After competing against 800+ innovators, entrepreneurs and start-ups, Terra Firma was selected to take place in a one-year program based out of Malmo, Sweden designed to develop innovative solutions to help build sustainable, resilient and inclusive cities and communities across the globe. As an integral member of the United Nations, UNOPS supports efforts to bring peace and security, humanitarian and development solutions to some of the world’s most challenging environments. The UNOPS Sustainable Investments in Infrastructure and Innovation (S3i) initiative launched the Global Innovation Challenge and its Incubation Program recently, with much of these efforts focusing on enhancing community resilience to the impacts of climate change and advancing gender equality. Terra Firma’s mission was a complete fit with this program. The goal of the Incubation Program is to provide organizations like Terra Firma with support to advance our marketplace opportunities and solutions, connect us with communities in need, and connect us to financing and donor networks around the world. Acceptance into this program may significantly increase Terra Firma's international exposure and help us determine critical next steps as we develop strategies to ramp up and scale our solutions on the ground. Through this award, Terra Firma will gain access to: UNOPS S3i Innovation networks (MIT and other universities, global business partners, think tanks, and entrepreneurs) sharing international expertise; UNOPS country offices and pilot programs in the field; Incubation space and learning opportunities at the UNOPS S3i Innovation Centre in Malmo, Sweden; and Investors, venture capitalists, and third party investment funds through UN Innovation Centre networks. After a successful first year of prototype development and demonstration site construction, and an amazing fundraising campaign raising $100,000, Terra Firma is excited about the next phase in our mission to facilitate rainwater harvesting in Central Africa to supply water for domestic use, reduce catastrophic erosion and provide opportunity for small-scale economic development. This new award and opportunity will be a huge advantage as we seek to scale rainwater collection implementation and develop business solutions to facilitate this work. Stay tuned for more exciting news throughout 2022. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/bd9d277b-a323-4880-b939-a5c601db69ef/IMG_8956.JPG Field Updates Lise-Olga Makonga, Terra Firma’s new director of operations in Kinshasa. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/b94042b4-7ebf-40ae-bc3d-785158cca9c2/IMG_8984.jpg Field Updates Installing prototype roof clips on the Gaston house. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/c7316224-9c17-4a17-b8f8-c48b22a61f07/IMG_8900.JPG Field Updates - Make it stand out Ferrocement water storage tank under construction. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/462785bf-7448-4850-bc52-721944449084/IMG_20211104_140021_801.jpg Field Updates - Make it stand out Finished storage tank https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/53f56a29-ba92-4602-8430-cb6a40eff6fa/IMG_8885.JPG Field Updates - Make it stand out Potable water gathering site. https://www.tfrain.org/impact daily 0.75 2024-07-10 https://www.tfrain.org/giving-page-1-1 daily 0.75 2024-09-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1615225259531-0HK0SKZ3FR5VOEIG39FB/Rectangle+26.jpg Giving Page 1 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1615225322403-8M32U1NK41JYCCJQCWP7/Rectangle+25.jpg Giving Page 1 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1615225298850-6RK21Y7YG7VPMPS9NQT9/Rectangle+27.jpg Giving Page 1 https://www.tfrain.org/take-action-year-end-campaign daily 0.75 2025-12-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/5becb065-3c0a-4c04-83ac-7816a784274c/Screenshot+2024-12-06+at+10.38.11%E2%80%AFPM.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/85d25290-1a36-47d3-864a-b8dd8182ef92/Screenshot+2024-12-06+at+10.38.22%E2%80%AFPM.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/6b91cbb6-48b0-4eee-bd36-2eb4d25a1b69/Screenshot+2024-12-06+at+10.37.56%E2%80%AFPM.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/4ac0c67f-54e5-4ab1-a89b-1aad727cf42d/Screenshot+2024-12-06+at+10.37.30%E2%80%AFPM.png https://www.tfrain.org/year-end-campaign daily 0.75 2024-12-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/5becb065-3c0a-4c04-83ac-7816a784274c/Screenshot+2024-12-06+at+10.38.11%E2%80%AFPM.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/85d25290-1a36-47d3-864a-b8dd8182ef92/Screenshot+2024-12-06+at+10.38.22%E2%80%AFPM.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/6b91cbb6-48b0-4eee-bd36-2eb4d25a1b69/Screenshot+2024-12-06+at+10.37.56%E2%80%AFPM.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ef22bea7f97931f9081f6e4/4ac0c67f-54e5-4ab1-a89b-1aad727cf42d/Screenshot+2024-12-06+at+10.37.30%E2%80%AFPM.png https://www.tfrain.org/take-action-year-end-campaign-2025 daily 0.75 2025-12-11