Thlagong, a biodiversity learning hub (Republic of South Africa, Waterberg, Rantlakane)

Location

Republic of South Africa, Waterberg, Rantlakane

Project duration

Planning: February 2023 – January 2024 (UL FA, Ljubljana)
Construction: January – February 2024 (Rantlakane, Waterberg, SA)

Partners

Slovenia: Univerza v Ljubljani, Fakulteta za arhitekturo / skupina Streha za vse, Trajekt – Zavod za prostorsko kulturo
Republic of South Africa: In Transformation Initiative, Lapalala Wilderness School, University of Pretoria, Department of Architecture

Mentors

prof. mag. Anja Planišček, doc. Gašper Medvešek, doc. dr. Tomaž Slak, asist. Primož Žitnik, asist. Mina Hiršman, sod. Tadej Bolta, sod. Samo Kralj

UL FA Students

Lenart Berdon, Tea Berljavac, Neža Brankovič, Sima Bučar, Rok Dobrilovič, Valentin Dowhyj, Pia Gerbec, Aljaž Gradišar, Ela Grasselli, Mark Gregori, Hana Kifle, Julia Koželj, Ela Irena Leskošek, Žan Majetič, Martin Mušič, Ana Pečnik, Filip Perušić, Tanja Pfajfar, Daša Pintarič, Tina Ražem, Neža Rejc, Tine Robič, Anja Rudof, Ana Marija Snoj, Tilen Šmid, Sinja Tekavec, Luka Tomažič, Urša Uhan, Klara Suša Vačovnik, Lea Elena Vidmar, Špela Zakrajšek, Tamara Zalokar, Saša Alekseja Zepan, Blaž Zupančič, Ajda Žagar, Klemen Žibert, Jan Žonta

Project supporters

In progress – we will be happy to have your support!

Faculty of Architecture students will carry out a new international development cooperation project in South Africa in 2023-24. We will design and construct an educational centre in the impoverished village of Rantlakane in the Waterberg region, the main purpose of which will be teaching about biodiversity.

Waterbeg lies to the south of the Republic of South Africa and is part of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites for its biodiversity. In spite of the breathtaking natural wonders, the majority of the population of Waterberg lives in poverty, with children having limited access to basic as well as environmental education. Our goal is to build a new education centre in the village of Rantlakane, specialized for educating children and the wider local community on the biodiversity of their land, the importance of its conservation and preservation, and the development of environmentally responsible economic activities. We wish to encourage a fostering of knowledge that will connect the people, flora and fauna into one sustainable community.

During the first phase of the project (August-September 2023) we will work with local residents to construct a shelter for meetings and education. The project will resume in January 2024 with the construction of another section, which will include lecture rooms, an administration unit and workshops. The sites will be complemented by a rich, landscaped biotic learning park. All of this will be achieved in cooperation with South African NGOs and students from the Department of Architecture at the University of Pretoria. The aim is to employ our collective knowledge and strength to improve the conditions for children’s education, and at the same time contribute to the conservation of biodiversity. Both goals are also important targets of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (2015).

To achieve our goals, knowledge and goodwill must be aided by financial resources. These are necessary before our departure to South Africa. You can support us by directly donating or providing sponsorship funds.

Fundraising:

Trajekt – Zavod za prostorsko kulturo, Ljubljana V Murglah 133, 1000 Ljubljana
TRR: SI56 0201 0025 3191 888
namen: donacija Thlagong