PROJECT: St. Justin Primary School
YEAR: 2021 - Current
LOCATION: Kidatu, Tanzania
NATURE: Extracurricular
In 2021, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, I refused to stand still and pursued my dream of volunteering in a rural African village and before I knew it, I had booked my flight to Tanzania. After arriving, I quickly became moved by the director’s good intentions and the community’s need for more school facilities. The school lacked government funds, prompting me to launch a crowdfunding campaign among my personal connections. Through a heartfelt promotional video and sharing it passionately, we raised enough money to build two new classrooms, accommodating 60 additional children. Although my architectural studies had yet to begin, I was captivated by the construction process in Tanzania. Therefore, I decided to document the whole process. Since all materials were locally produced, the crowdfunding campaign not only supported the children but impacted the community as a whole. I remain involved as ambassador in the project up to this day.
EXPANSION PROJECT
During the day, instead of attending school, children could be seen roaming the streets. In an effort to address this issue, funds were raised through a crowdfunding campaign, and as a result, the construction of two new classrooms commenced. I was deeply fascinated by the entire building process, which utilized locally sourced raw materials within a 5 km radius of the site. This allowed me to closely witness and document the entire process. While the architecture may not have been high-end, the simplicity and remarkable efficiency of the process left a lasting impression on me. Not only does it facilitate the school’s rapid expansion, but it also contributes significantly to the well-being of the entire community, as the production cycle takes place within its boundaries. Lastly, I was astonished by the impact that can be made with a relatively modest effort. As a result, I eagerly anticipate continuing my support for this project and applying my knowledge to contribute towards making the world a better place in the future.
