Entry DateAugust 27, 2018
What is the name of the project?
Malawi Children's Village Teacher Housing
Organization name
Malawi Children's Village
What country is the project located?
Malawi
Website
Primary contact
Caroline Ambrose
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Is the organization capable and agreeable to communicating with our team several times per week during the design stage?
yes
Explain the humanitarian need for this project and how this project can meet the need.
In rural Malawi, schools can often not afford to pay teachers a competitive wage, and many well-educated teachers leave in search for higher paying work. While the Children's Village cannot afford to pay teachers more, it does have the land to build teacher housing to be offered as an amenity that makes them a more attractive choice for teachers. By attracting better teachers, the school can grow, develop, and thrive without having such a high staff turnover rate.
What is the mission statement of the organization you represent?
Our mission is to enhance the lives of orphans by providing health, social and educational resources in 39 villages along the southwest shore of Lake Malawi.
What humanitarian category does the project best fit under?
School Housing
Describe the current budget situation. Is the land owned outright? What has been spent on the project and what is the estimated remaining costs? What is the strategy for attaining outstanding funds? Please provide as many specifics as possible.
The land is owned, but the speculative budget has not been set yet. The fundraising for this project has yet to begin, and we are trying to lay some basic design groundwork before beginning fundraising efforts.
Describe the land situation. Has land been procured? Has a site been selected? Was land donated from the local government? Is a deed in-hand?
The land is already owned by the Children's Village and has been selected. There are some initial site plans developed, as well.
What is typical price per square meter for construction in this region?
n/a
Is the organization capable of hosting (transportation, lodging, translation, safety, etc.) designer site visits? Design teams typically consist of 2-6 people and stay for 7 days.
Unsure
What are the specific program desires for the project. How many buildings, stories, and floor plan square meters? Provide a detailed list of rooms desired and their specific intent.
There is a goal of nine duplexes for teacher housing, and then a shared teacher space as well as a training space for solar panel installation. The content of private areas versus communal spaces has not been decided, but bathrooms and kitchen spaces might be communal rather than individual.
Provide any additional information that should be considered.
While the primary focus is on the duplexes, there is currently no road that runs to the desired site of the housing. This road would have to be built first, in order for construction materials and teams to access the site. Also, there are no protective measures like walls or fencing that surround the site, though there is dangerous wildlife that lives in the area. In terms of safety for both the teachers and students, a defensive wall might also be added to the project.
Explain the desired timeline from the project. When do you hope to start and finish construction? Will construction occur in phases?
Because the project is in the beginning stages of fundraising and design, there is no set timeline yet. Malawi is currently experiencing a drought, and the Village's focus is on subsistence, not development. Until this changes, the project is on hold, but design work can still be developed.