A tale of two eco-friendly schools built by Westerners in Global South countries

[the_future_modernes]

GODERICH, SIERRA LEONE


Goderich Waldorf School in Goderich Village, Sierra Leone gets an earthship and the info to build it from American earthship architect Micheal Reynolds

Firstly, what is the Goderich Waldorf School? It is an initiative of Sierra Leoneans to to meet the educational needs of kids in the poor village of Goderich, using the Waldorf method of teaching.

Goderich Waldorf School - part 1 of 2

The Goderich Waldorf School was started by the Sierra Leonean charity "Action for Child Protection" in 2001. Its goal is to provide free education to children in the impoverished community of Goderich Village, some of whom have spent their childhood fighting in the country's 10 year civil war. Using the alternative methods of a Waldorf education, children learn through drawing, story telling, drama and nature study. This creative type of education is intended to teach as well as heal those who have been deeply traumatized by war and continued poverty.

For more info, go to:
www.goderichwaldorf.org

Photography, video & editing by Annabel Clark
www.annabelclark.net

Goderich Waldorf School - part 2 of 2

And because of that need of a permanent housing for 200 houses:

Sierra Leone Earthship

The Goderich Waldorf School in Freetown, Sierra Leone
We are using this design for a school in October 2011!
http://www.goderichwaldorf.org/howtohelp.htm

The Goderich Waldorf School in Sierra Leone was founded in 2001 at the end of the 10 year civil war. Since then it has always been housed in a simple structure made of sticks and tarpaulin. They will finally have their own school building and will be able to expand further in order to serve the community with free education as well as the skills to be able to build more Earthships......


My Thoughts

Build with the local community. Teach the skills to the local community, from kids to adults. The local community benefits. Buildings have many applications to the local situation.


BALI, INDONESIA

Expat British jeweller John Hardy watches Al Gore's "The Incovenient Truth" and decides that he must do his bit to save his grandchildren. He decides to build a school.


John Hardy: My green school dream

http://www.ted.com Join John Hardy on a tour of the Green School, his off-the-grid school in Bali that teaches kids how to build, garden, create (and get into college). The centerpiece of campus is the spiraling Heart of School, perhaps the world's largest freestanding bamboo building.

My Thoughts

Nice idea. Great architectural execution. However, am somewhat iffy about the fact that the pupils therein are 80% expats. Kinda wince-inducing to see Indonesian people building and cooking for and otherwise supporting a school in their own country that most of them can't afford to go to. I mean, when you have the idea that a commitment to have 20% of the pupils be Balinese is a great thing... How much does it cost to go there, I wonder? And they intend to build 50 around the world? I wonder where? I wonder using which land? I wonder who these schools will benefit? I just...wince wince wince. Its a great idea and its bloody beautiful building its just...I wonder what the relationship is between the Balinese and the expats? All this good land that expats are able to easily buy...what impact is that having on the Balinese? What are the environmental issues in Bali and how are they being addressed?


Conclusion:

Environmental issues cannot be examined in a non- intersectional manner. You can't talk about the environment with talking about class and race and gender and economics and nationalities (Global North vs Global South) and privileges of every kind, cause you will end up solving one problem while neglecting or making worse several others. If we insist on changing the world, we need to understand that our actions have to be properly thought through.

Comments

[spiralsheep]

Environmental issues cannot be examined in a non- intersectional manner. You can't talk about the environment with talking about class and race and gender and economics and nationalities (Global North vs Global South) and privileges of every kind, cause you will end up solving one problem while neglecting or making worse several others. If we insist on changing the world, we need to understand that our actions have to be properly thought through.

This.