THE GOLDEN GALLEY GAS HEATER PROTOTYPE
THE GOLDEN GALLEY ANNUAL AWARDS FOR ORGANIZATIONS SERVICING THE HOMELESS, FOR MEDIA CREATION IN AFRICAN PROVERB STORYTELLING, HOMELESS TAKES HIS LIFE BACK, HUISMA MET DIE HELE HUISKINNES AND THE MOST NOTEWORTHY HOMELESS AND HUNGRY SOLUTIONS (not currently happening but would, in a perfect world, according to Simone. Me.)
A Galley - This is something used in township, as a make-do heater; made from a 20l aluminium paint tin, which has had the paint washed out and then pierced along the whole exterior of the tin with about the diameter or length of a large kitchen knife, although I have heard the holes shouldn't be too big as the holes are not to allow heat out but rather oxygen in, to feed the fire.
A 20l aluminium paint tin out of which a heater is made, by piercing holes along the side and making a fire inside. When the wood has-been reduced to hot coals,the "Galley" (or 20l aluminium paint tin) is taken inside to warm the home.
The whole Galley emits heats; as aluminium is a good heat conductor, if the heat from the coalsis constant. If the holes pierced along the exterior, are too large - one can burn from the direct exposure to the flames/coals through said hole or holes.
At first, a fire is made outdoors (sometimes inside the Galley and sometimes in a seperate fireplace) and the coals transferred into the Galley. The Galley is taken inside the home to keep everyone warm and potentially heat water or dry washed underwear.
Bathing next to the Galley 'heater', makes the cold water bath a bit more bearable and one can, thereby, avoid colds and flu from developing, as a result of hypothermia from exposure to the cold air and having to bath, in ice cold water simultaneously. Cape Town gets cold.
Some of my suggested Galley exterior materials and patterns. Also, it's just a Mood Board, I suppose, for the vision I have for the Golden Galley.
At a later stage, once a few fires have been made in the Galley, the fire can be made directly in the Galley, as there is enough Black (half-burnt Ash or natural charcoal) that a fire can be easily started. Remember that, another reason why the fire is made outside and the Galley then taken inside, is as a result of the smoke caused by burning wood. The Galley is also a safety mechanism that ensures one can have heat from coals in the home, without anyone or anything burning or setting alight.
Without an extractor fan, wet wood, kindling, bark, gum and nettles, acorns etc. and certain kinds of wood, even when dry can cause eye-watering smoke clouds. Also, this smoke leaves a pungent residue smell in fabrics that are normally exposed indoors such as bedding, mattresses and curtains.
Suggested Galley textures and paint job.
1. I know there are electrical and gas-powered heaters on the market, as well as those fueled by parafin. I was thinking of a heater, that is gas powered, similar to the gas-powered one that looks like a small, round, bar table with an umbrella or overhanging lip on top, connected by a central picnic table pole; from which, heat emanates from most of the surface area of the device. Very hot! Good for heating up a whole khaya. As is the Galley.
We have an original Galley as the prototype. We then 3D print a copy of a Galley including the holes and bends inwards and the petticoat lip on the top, where the lid seals the paint contents into the aluminium tin.
On a non heat conductive pedestal in the same round shape (only a few mm's wider- maybe one could use lined tyres!) made from a material that is also not flammable but that will also house a gas canister.
This Gas Galley can be used indoors and outdoors, even in partial rain or drizzling conditions but needs to be given some on time indoors to dry itself, thereafter.
THE aesthetic I chose was a galvanized steel as the paint tin, surrounded by a lighter mesh flat sphere base, which can hold a wider circular sheet (or bars) of round or square bar - which will act as a barrier for children or the elderly, which can be removed.
These two componants; the grill and the Galley; will be sprayed in gold, silver, bronze, gunmetal or rose gold. A good quality metallic paint with reflective particles will ensure an upmarket aesthetic, but with a very local and Township and African flavour.
The pedestal can be made of a material called W.O.O.D. - which.combines wood dust, tiny wood shavings, silicon and glue - poured into moulds and set. A golden wood dye can be added before pouring. I assume it can also be spray painted.
Another accessory I thought of is a umbrella style top which, like the umbrella gas heater, heats along the whole surface area; which keeps one warm from all sides. This would be useful at a stall on a rainy market fat or when socializing outside, having a braai.
The whole purpose behind this design would be to give the good old Galley a 2nd run as uSmaat version of itself, as well as making this iconic, unforgettable symbol of Township available to the world; at a price, as a souvenir of Township.
Also, it has been proven that in rural and Township Africa, plastics of all kinds are burnt to start fires. This toxic smoke is breathed in by all people, warming themselves at the fire and with a half-life of 20 years, the harmful, toxic compounds in burnung plastics bond to the person DNA in their fat cells; releasing toxins unpredictably, within the half-life's time limit. Build ups of toxins like these cause tumors and cancer. The gas Galley will decrease the incidence of unexplained or obscure types of cancers. Propane and butane gas are the cleanest of oils, gases and fossil fuels, with no harmful by-products and little, if any, harmful effects are noted in the human body, from diluted inhalation and skin exposure.
It would also just be an expression of 'We are who we are. And proud of ourselves and aren't going to be throwing anyone or anything away, coming up in the world, including and especially not our beloved Galleys that saw us through many cold nights and days and weeks of storms and no clothes-drying sunlight. The Galley stays. A golden Galley.'
This represents the hearth or meeting place in a kitchen where the mother gen feeds and cares for her family. However, the hearth is also associated with charitable actions, huiskinnes (adopted, neighbourhood kids), storytelling and the imparting of wisdom through the Socratic method of African parables - usually noted as references to the natural world, the different species being personified and characterized as human entities, with human and moral struggles of conscience vs. winning or greed or being a backstabbing character or trusted friend to win.
Because of this narrative and the unsung existance of it in Township, I propose that we create an annual award for:
1. The Huisma of the year, whose Galley was always available in freezing South African winters.
3. The African story-teller Award for
☆ literature in Mother tongue (to be printed in both original and English for the world to delight in for award nominations, awards and publishing thereafter in singular writer sponsored work as well as Awards of the Year hardcover)
4. The organization making progress in:
☆ alleviating suffering and upliftment programs for the homeless
☆ education or upskilling programs
☆ creating paid or gainful employment for the once homeless
☆ daily necessary facilities for homeless people
☆ Administration or record keeping of interactions with the homeless, gatgering helpful profiles
☆ making ca$h available to the homeless
☆ safe space therapy and trauma counselling
☆ advocating/ lobbying / time in the field /picking fights
☆ inventors or financiers of free useful gear like tents, backpacks or the i❤CapeTown #LoveProject stickers to sell etc.
☆ soup kitchens/feeding schemes and support food hampers
5. Once homeless, standing, surviving around the Galley, who has uphanded themselves off the street and into HomeKhaya and supported independence (with ongoing mentoring, social services, counselling, subsidies, grants etc.)
For example, I 💟 the CapeTownSecretLiveProject which prints 3 multi-coloured ❤️s of varying sizes in nice packaging - that is given to street people to sell on the street. I love how accessible it is and how everyone loves stickers! I think with some investment, the #CapeTownSecret❤️Project could even vary sticker designs, packaging and even get some new products going. They have the right idea. People can support the initiative by pledging R20 for 3 packets of stickers for homeless people to sell.
Then, I know of an initiative in Observatory (don't know the name) who had backpacks especially made for homeless people that had a variety of goodies inside and built into the backpack was a solar phone charger. I saw one of the backpacks and it was pretty cool. If those two could collaborate, it would be great.