Our colleague Maya de Ridder works and volunteers in Zambia at ProjectsNow. Over the past months, she has helped expand and enhance a local school, focusing on sustainable, community-centered design. From creating climate-friendly classrooms to designing inspiring play spaces, Maya’s efforts aim to make a lasting impact. In this new update she will give us an insight in her designing process.
Maya began by studying how the community interacts with the school’s environment. The school grounds were mostly large, dry areas, not ideal for children. “I wanted to create safe, cool, inspiring spaces,” she explains. By transforming the grounds into shaded play areas, Maya is crafting spaces where children can learn and relax.
Community input has been crucial. Maya made sure to leave room for local ideas and involvement, aligning her designs closely with the needs of the people.
Designing for Zambia’s Climate
The extreme heat in Zambia made climate-conscious design a top priority. Maya focused on essential needs, like ensuring a steady water supply for both the school and village. After that was done, she coordinated with local farmers to plant 250 fruit trees, providing shade and food for students.
“This was a major victory for me and for the school. It has shown me the importance that designing the built environment – and in this case the school – is all about specific needs for a specific location.”
Building the Science Block
Maya worked on the Science Block, one of the school’s main expansions. In close consultation with the Ministry, we have drawn up a list of requirements for the expansion. “I am very happy to meet the representative of the government agency and that he has obliged the local sponsor (CDF) to finance three additional classrooms next year. Because of our initiative we have managed to convince the government with our vision that there is also a strong investment in this village and for these children.”
After reviewing the site, she realized that the location could be improved. She led efforts to reposition the classrooms for better ventilation and shade. “The classrooms had already their funding in place, but I had to take the lead in this because it was really a misplaced location. Too close to the road and poorly positioned for ventilation and sun. While reviewing other choices and plans that had been made prior to my arrival, I made some changes. I designed climate-friendly features, like larger roof overhangs and smaller openings for airflow. I removed the use of glass – all cost-effective improvements that work in line with the climate.”
Next up
The Ministry of Education now sees this project as a model for the entire province. For Maya, this support is deeply rewarding and motivates her to ensure the project’s success into next year. “I am proud that we have achieved this. It is about much more than just a school building. It is about a larger scale. Such as improving the living environment by planting more greenery and aligning the regulations with the wishes of the community.”
