4 CASE STUDIES 4.3 GANDO PRIMARY SCHOOL

Cultural and Social Context

Gando is a small village in Burkina Faso which is the 7th least developed country in the world [1]. The village population is approximately 3,000 people who mainly work in agriculture with a very low-income. The community lacks access to potable water outside of wells, has no electricity other than solar-powered lamps, and has a much lower literacy rate than the national average of 25%. [2]

These tough living conditions are no different to those in Ghor As-Safi.

[1] UN Human Development Index, 2011

[2] https://arquitecturaviva.com/works/ampliacion-de-la-escuela-primaria-en-gando-7

Community Contribution

The project itself stems from the desire to improve social conditions within the community. [3] As soon as the rough blueprint of the school was drawn the entire village became enthusiastic about the project and many people gave ideas of their own on how to make it better. When construction began, locals started collaborating to source materials and build the school. [4] Building skills acquired by community members during the construction of the school were shown in the new extension in which they applied their knowledge and lessons learnt from the first building to improve the second one and the bricks for the extension building were made locally by members of the community. [3]

“Only those who are involved in the development process can appreciate the results achieved, develop them further and protect them. In the village no one could build. What I had to do was train the people to be part of the building process”, says Kéré. [4]

[3] https://www.kerearchitecture.com/work/building/gando-primary-school-3

[4] https://arquitecturaviva.com/works/ampliacion-de-la-escuela-primaria-en-gando-7