Give 420 Girls in Tanzania Their Own School

We are thrilled to announce that the American Institute of Architects (AIA) New England Region has awarded Africa Schoolhouse architects, Pamela W. Hawkes and T. Scott Teas of Scattergood Design, a 2017 Honor Award for the Milembe School science lab and classrooms. The buildings were one of seven projects to receive this prestigious award. The inspired learning spaces would not have been possible without your support and the hundreds of hours Pamela and Scott dedicated to the project. 

The culturally conscious buildings are the result of the architects’ deep commitment to listening to the community and allowing the design to be guided by the specific needs of Tanzanian girls in this rural context. Pamela and Scott began their work visiting many Tanzanian girls’ schools as part of their research repeatedly asking the question: What are the qualities that make an ideal learning environment for girls in rural Tanzania? Meeting with girls, teachers, school committee members, government officials, and the Africa Schoolhouse construction team, they gained insight into the details that make a school secure and sustainable, with areas for learning, and creative and social activities throughout the campus.

Thanks to your support, five buildings are complete and girls are now conducting experiments in the science lab and learning in the classrooms!  The architects’ designs provide a contemporary and fresh lens on educational structures in Tanzania. The beautiful, light-filled spaces were created by the Africa Schoolhouse team using local construction techniques and sustainable materials. Adapting to the environment, the lab and classrooms reflect the colors and materials of the rural landscape with bamboo reeds filtering light over a fiberglass clerestory below the roof and new windows designed by the architects allowing maximum ventilation with shading in the hot weather and full protection during the rainy season. The lab and classrooms are open and welcoming and provide inspiring spaces for learning, as student Angelina suggested: “It feels so special to be able to learn in these buildings!”

The AIA award jury said the following about the Milembe building designs: “The jury found this to be first and foremost, a very handsome piece of architecture, skillfully assembled with respect for its immediate environment. A well-integrated use of passive systems and local materials help control the costs, both initial and recurring. Above all, the social purpose of the project and the care that the design team brought to it is highly commended. We would like to acknowledge the diversity in practice and the contexts in which we choose to build.”

After ten years of committed work, Africa Schoolhouse is still on the edge of progressive design forging ahead with new, beautiful, functional, and sustainable buildings thanks to the dedication and thoughtful work of our architects and ASH construction team and caring donors like you. We are so grateful for your help in making this possible—we couldn’t have done it without you! Please come visit what you have helped build and meet the girls of Milembe who can share their love of learning in the new science lab and classrooms with you!

Links:

• Visit the Africa Schoolhouse website