Kao La Amani Children’s Village, Tanzania
Boma Ng’ombe / Tanzania
Why the Kao La Amani Children’s Village matters
In Tanzania, roughly 8% of children under the age of 18 are orphaned, with an estimated 90,000 orphans in the northern region of Kilimanjaro alone. Ranked 154th out of 187 countries in the UN Human Development Index, Tanzania remains one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world.
Children are driven away or leave their homes due to poverty, neglect, family crises, abuse, or the death of one or both parents. Burdened with a lifetime of suffering, they often arrive at the existing Koa La Amani orphanage malnourished and in need of medical care.
These vulnerable children of all ages need a home, a place to learn, be loved, and develop into healthy members of the community. Despite having tragic pasts, they are full of smiles. They love to play and learn. New children arrive regularly and others are reunified, and yet the children’s village remains a home. The Kao La Amani Village was designed with these considerations in mind.
The design
The Children’s Village consists of six cottages for groups of children, each with its own live-in ‘Mama’. The design includes intimate living and study spaces and expansive areas for sport and play. The village is designed as a safe place where children of different ages can grow and develop together.
The roof of the dining hall is a timber truss which contributes to the low-carbon construction. The upper walls are clad in locally sourced sisal poles cut from the Agave Sisalana plant. Solar hot water heaters provide hot water for cleaning & washing and rainwater collected from the roof is used for laundry and irrigation. The power supply, water supply, waste, and drainage will all be operable off-grid. These sustainability features allow the school to run at minimal costs while protecting its natural resources and ensuring the Children’s Village will continue to provide to children in this area for decades to come.
The impact
More than half of Tanzania’s population of 56 million are children. This youthful generation has the potential to be a huge asset to the country if they are given a fair start in life. The Kao La Amani Children’s Village provides more than just shelter, it’s a sustainable village designed to protect and nurture. Every child deserves a home.
PROJECT TYPE: Children’s Orphanage
PROJECT PARTNERS: Tír na nÓg Children’s Foundation and Kao La Amani
ENGINEERING PARTNERS: Michael Hadi Associates (Structural), Hoare Lea (M&E) and WSP
STATUS: Under construction
