A student from Frodsham is jetting off to South Africa to build a nursery in an impoverished village and is calling on people to dig deep to support the project.
Twenty-year-old Sebastian Chambers, a second year architecture and environmental design student at the University of Nottingham, is taking part in Project Kagiso.
The University of Nottingham-run venture has seen students and staff design a new early learning school in the rural village of Makke in Limpopo.
Sebastian, who attended Helsby High School, said: “It is one of the poorest, least developed parts of the country, with high levels of unemployment.
“Our project will help provide a bright, clean and safe environment for teaching basic skills, play and music to village children from under one year to seven-years-old.
“It will also provide employment for the local women who teach in the crèche, cook meals, wipe noses and sing and play with the kids.”
The new scheme will offer space for classrooms and an office, and the existing school building will be re-purposed into a kitchen.
But Sebastian and his teammates’ efforts will not stop there – they will fly out to South Africa in April to carry out the build themselves.
Sebastian said he ‘can’t wait’ to get grafting.
“I think it’s fair to say there isn’t a single one of us who isn’t excited about actually being able to see the designs realised and if that wasn’t enough we’ll be the ones doing it and get to see the locals’ response first hand, it’s going to be a truly incredible and educational experience,” he added.
Each project member – all of whom are paying for their own travel and accommodation – has been set a fundraising goal of £1,000 for building materials and tools to ensure the build is a success.
“There is no limit to the amount you contribute, large or small, every penny counts and will not be forgotten.”
To donate to Project Kagiso, click here.
