Education and career center

The urbanistic design of the educational center draws inspiration from local architecture: buildings that serve different purposes arranged in a circle around a central courtyard, which will be decorated with mango trees. In Gambia, the mango tree is also called the “tree of life” as it grows nutritional fruits, while its mighty canopy provides a cool shade in the hot climate. Shade, coolness and wind from the Atlantic Ocean were therefore key considerations in the design of the buildings and led to a key distinctive element: light, airy roofs that open towards the top, allowing for natural ventilation.

Canopy (2018)

The first of the planned structures built by the small group of students and mentors was a canopy, finished in the summer of 2018. Its construction comprised a lightweight steel framework, covered by a slightly sloped roof made of corrugated metal sheets. Today, the canopy casts its shade over a children’s playground, equipped with simple structures made from used car tires, providing a safe playing space for the local children, and a place for the other residents to gather, socialise and cool off. In the future, a small reception area and information point will be constructed beneath the canopy.

Construction work

Small school (2019)

In February and March 2019, a larger group of students, mentors and local workers built a “preschool”, which provides early education to local children. The building consists of three classrooms and a restroom area. Its shape is elongated and borders a central courtyard, which will in the future be planted with mango trees. Similar to the previous building in Uganda, this one too was constructed using compressed earth blocks, a more affordable and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional bricks made of cement or sand. They were made and air-dried at a nearby construction facility.

The building’s structure is made of steel frames, with walls of bricks from compressed earth. The longer walls are “latticed”, constructed from spaced blocks, allowing for both natural ventilation and lighting in the classrooms. The lattice is accompanied by semi-transparent sliding doors, interwoven with strips of bamboo. When fully opened, the doors offer a view of the central courtyard on one side, and a playground canopied by eucalyptus trees on the other. Ventilation and cooling of the classrooms is also helped by the open roof, made of corrugated metal and covered with a lightweight fabric.

Construction work