Students to build nursery in South Africa

THIRTY SIX architecture students from the University of Nottingham are travelling to South Africa to build a nursery for needy kids.

The £25,000 sustainable nursery – chosen from three designs by the students – will be built in Jouberton, a poverty-stricken shanty town near Klerksdorp.

The students, who leave on March 21, are raising the money to pay for the materials while paying for their own flights.

They will spend six weeks putting together the building with help from villagers.

Second-year student Matthew Powell, 19, from Lenton, said: "We are looking forward to making a difference.

"It will change people's lives out there. To do something this amazing will be really good.

"It is an adventurous design.

"It has that 'wow factor'. It is something that the locals will be proud of."

The current nursery in Klerksdorp is very basic and too small for the number of children in the area. The proposed building is much larger, with a curved shape and an angled roof.

Timber and plyboard is being used for the majority of the structure, which will stand on a concrete base.

Helen Jones, 23, a fifth-year architecture student who is managing the project, said: "The classrooms over there are generally like square boxes.

"This is going to be much more dynamic, but also in keeping.

"It is going to be a great experience.

"Watching Comic Relief, you realise how much we have over here and how much we can help.

"It is going to change their lives. Being able to do that is great."

The project is in conjunction with Education Africa.

A practice build has been put up near the School of the Built Environment building at University Park.

A website has been set up for people to follow the building's progress and make donations.

Around £5,800 has already been raised for the project.

Visit www.justgiving.com/jouberton_nursery and www.projectjouberton.com to see what's going on and find out how you can help.

chris.birkle@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk