UK students to build nursery in Jouberton

Architecture students from the University of Nottingham in the UK are leaving for Klerksdorp this week to build a nursery for needy kids. The £25,000 sustainable nursery - chosen from three designs by the students - will be built in Jouberton.

The 36 students, who leave the UK on 21 March, are raising the money to pay for the materials while paying for their own flights. They will spend six weeks putting together the building with help from local people. Second-year student Matthew Powell (19) from Lenton told the Notthingham Evening-post: “We are looking forward to making a difference. It will change people’s lives out there. To do something this amazing will be really good.

“It is an adventurous design. It has that wow factor. It is something that the locals will be proud of.” The current nursery in Klerksdorp is very basic and too small for the number of children in the area. The proposed building is much larger, with a curved shape and an angled roof. Timber and plyboard is being used for the majority of the structure, which will stand on a concrete base.

Helen Jones (23), a fifth-year architecture student who is managing the project, said: “The classrooms over there are generally like square boxes. This is going to be much more dynamic, but also in keeping. “It is going to be a great experience. It is going to change their lives. Being able to do that is great.” The project is in conjunction with Education Africa.

A website has been set up for people to follow the building’s progress and make donations. Around £5,800 has already been raised for the project. Visit www.justgiving.com/jouberton_nursery and www.projectjouberton.com to see what’s going on and find out how you can help.

Video "Day 2 - Making Portal Frames"