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Nqobile Victor Mkhungo

Nqobile Victor Mkhungo

Durban, ZA

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Gobidolo Senior Primary School

The right to education is a fundamental and inherent entitlement of every individual, as well as a principle enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However, over 600 million children globally do not have the assurance of this right due to precarious economic, political, and health circumstances, the existence of conflicts, natural calamities, stereotypes, and socio-cultural biases. Most schools in Sub-Saharan Africa lack the resources to provide students with adequate protection, a sense of security, and an environment conducive to their full potential. Lacking a high-quality education, children would be unable to acquire the essential skills required to effectively handle challenges in life and secure gainful work, leading to dependence. Moreover, they will be excluded from participating in decision-making processes that impact their lives, so jeopardizing their future prospects.  

Like all other schools under the Accelerated Schools Infrastructure Development Initiative (ASIDI) Programme, this school has modern facilities including a Computer Laboratory, a Science Laboratory, and a well-equipped Library. The facility's site plan is designed to foster a strong sense of community and connection. It achieves this by organizing its structures into village-like clusters of individual buildings, which respect the existing building typologies in the area. Inside the facility, the spaces embody a welcoming atmosphere by incorporating crafts and local craftsmanship. The school opted for face brick as its material of choice due to its low-maintenance characteristics. The selected bricks closely resemble the color of the ground. The accents on the buildings were achieved through the application of plaster in diverse manners. 

As a component of Local Economic Development initiatives, community members actively participated in the construction of the school and now have the legitimate authority to claim ownership of the facility, which serves as both a school and a community center.


 
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Status: Built
Location: Umtata, ZA
My Role: Architectural designer & 3d rendering specialist