The main goal of this project is to support the process of ‘Selfconstruction of Dwellings’ in the Victorias 3 community, founded in 1999 after a long period of organisation and vindication by the community, which culminated in the recovery of the land. With this project we seek, in addition to the symbolic value of the land, to allow for the families in Victorias 3 to improve their health and hygienic conditions as well as their economic situation. Moreover, by providing a stable habitat, living conditions within the family, social relationships, and the degree of empowerment of the community will be improved. Hence, they can proceed with this process of human development, originally set off by themselves together with the organisation for the recovery of Mother Earth. The dwellings will be built with autochthonous equipment, materials and technologies, to facilitate usability and supply and to prevent the risk of technological dependency. The benefi ciaries themselves, who previously followed a capacity building course, will provide labour. Upkeep of dwellings is therefore guaranteed by the owners themselves.

The School in Mwakikonge. The aim of the project is to improve the situation for the staff and the children at school and to help Grötprojektet and politicians in their work to bring more children in the village of Mwakikonge to school. The building suggests an easier lunch situation with a dining room and a new kitchen. The building offers a large area with shadow as an extension of the school yard and with new premises intended for both spontaneous and planned meetings. Under the roof is a square of flexible surfaces for play, homework, city council meetings and ceremonies. The school is government owned and it is the government which has asked for the new building. The project group has been commissioned via the Swedish organization Grötprojektet, which has been active since 2009.

The construction of the building creates a shaded outdoor environment for learning and play
In addition to the building’s low-tech solutions with collection of water and solar cells, the building works to strengthen the role of education in the village, one way to bring more parents closer to school and understand the importance of knowledge and education. The building is also directly effective in improving the situation for students with long and hot school days. The building is designed according to local building tradition and will have a durable structure that hardly requires any maintenance. The roof is designed to be flexible and easy to replace if weather and wind cause damage.