03/05/09
Building a better Botswana
Engineering students from QUT helping Botswana locals build orphanage
Planning has begun on a school and home for children orphaned by AIDS in Botswana, Africa, but donations are desperately needed so students and locals can begin building this year.
The orphanage design is a combination of two top plans crafted by second-year urban development students at Queensland University of Technology
Construction is set to commence mid this year when 25 student volunteers from QUT's Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering head to Botswana for three to four weeks and teach locals simple building skills.
Project supervisor Paul den Ronden, a lecturer from the School of Urban Development, was introduced to the local church organisation, which will run the new orphanage in the Botswana village of Thamaga, and was invited to design and build the orphanage on donated land.
"I set the design of the orphanage as a class assignment, which the students were really enthusiastic about," Mr den Ronden said.
"The designs had to be simple and easy to construct, so that the students could teach the building techniques to the locals who will take over and finish the job.
"They came up with 30 designs and a shortlist was given to the church organisation to choose from."
Mr den Ronden said the orphanage was designed to eventually house 150 children aged two to 10, and would provide care and education for some of the 200,000 AIDS-orphaned children living in Botswana. The country has an estimated AIDS rate of 23.9 per cent, one of the highest in Africa and the world.
He said the donation wish list included a shipping container, building materials and tools, and money to buy a soil block maker.
"In Botswana, they use a lot of block work and brick work in their constructions and use very little timber, which is a scarce commodity," he said.
"We are raising money for a soil block maker to donate to the project so the local people will be able to make their building material from local earth, stabilised with a little fly ash or cement.
"These blocks are versatile and easy to use because they don't need to be laid on a mortar bed like regular bricks."
Mr den Ronden said the 25 students going to Botswana to begin construction would be donating their time and paying their way. They will live and eat with the locals and have an opportunity to do some sight-seeing on this once-in-a-lifetime trip.
"The students have been really enthusiastic," he said.
"The response to designing the orphanage alone was huge. Normally in group assignment work we have three outstanding submissions, but this time, 12 assignments earned high distinctions."
Issues of sustainability, local environment and cultural values are key considerations for the project.
The orphanage design is a combination of two top plans crafted by second-year urban development students at Queensland University of Technology
Construction is set to commence mid this year when 25 student volunteers from QUT's Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering head to Botswana for three to four weeks and teach locals simple building skills.
Project supervisor Paul den Ronden, a lecturer from the School of Urban Development, was introduced to the local church organisation, which will run the new orphanage in the Botswana village of Thamaga, and was invited to design and build the orphanage on donated land.
"I set the design of the orphanage as a class assignment, which the students were really enthusiastic about," Mr den Ronden said.
"The designs had to be simple and easy to construct, so that the students could teach the building techniques to the locals who will take over and finish the job.
"They came up with 30 designs and a shortlist was given to the church organisation to choose from."
Mr den Ronden said the orphanage was designed to eventually house 150 children aged two to 10, and would provide care and education for some of the 200,000 AIDS-orphaned children living in Botswana. The country has an estimated AIDS rate of 23.9 per cent, one of the highest in Africa and the world.
He said the donation wish list included a shipping container, building materials and tools, and money to buy a soil block maker.
"In Botswana, they use a lot of block work and brick work in their constructions and use very little timber, which is a scarce commodity," he said.
"We are raising money for a soil block maker to donate to the project so the local people will be able to make their building material from local earth, stabilised with a little fly ash or cement.
"These blocks are versatile and easy to use because they don't need to be laid on a mortar bed like regular bricks."
Mr den Ronden said the 25 students going to Botswana to begin construction would be donating their time and paying their way. They will live and eat with the locals and have an opportunity to do some sight-seeing on this once-in-a-lifetime trip.
"The students have been really enthusiastic," he said.
"The response to designing the orphanage alone was huge. Normally in group assignment work we have three outstanding submissions, but this time, 12 assignments earned high distinctions."
Issues of sustainability, local environment and cultural values are key considerations for the project.
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