Architecture Verte have been working with BuildaSchool UK (a charity that does what it says on the tin) over the last two years to create a very special project on the outskirts of Lilongwe (the capital city of Malawi).

The charity is already well respected in Malawi having built a complete school with teachers accommodation in the village of Mbelekete in the Dowa district, and also several classrooms as extensions of a vastly over subscribed city school in the Ngwena district of Lilongwe.

The four acre site, owned by the charity will become a sustainable development education centre called "Tickbird" after the symbiotic relationship between the humble tickbird and the mighty rhino. A visitor centre will showcase the latest research and technology in all areas of sustainability, including:

A goat breeding program to promote the keeping of goats for milk rather than meat, this will allow more protein to be produced each year, in a more beneficial way for the benefit of any malnourished children. Sustainable Building methods will promote the use of locally available building material and showcase building techniques to make the most of them.

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Renewable energy will be used and feature as method of allowing communities to have energy available without having the burden of electricity bills. Architecture Verte has developed a power station in a box which can be used in remote location to provide energy to a village or a workshop area, which uses a hybrid PV and wind energy system together with battery storage and inverters all housed in a 20ft sea container - which also serves to deliver the system in the first instance.

A medicinal planting centre to promote natural remedies and cures for ailments that can otherwise cause serious illness or even death. For instance, Malaria has a cure contained in a plant called artemesia which can be drunken as a tea infusion which can be made available for a fraction of the cost of the chemical treatment which is beyond the means of many malawian families.

Fairtrade workshops can produce essential oils which can make Malawi the first country in the world to produce Fair Trade essential oils. This can help replace tobacco as the main cash crop for some Malawian farmers, and the route to market has already been established.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

If you would like to support BuildaSchool in this admirable cause you can visit the website at: www.buildaschool.org.uk

There, you can "buy a brick" in the virtual wall which will allow all the aims to be achieved and at the same time, promote your involvement with this project.