Tanzania Orphanage

Since July of 2008 EWB-PSPP has been working closely with OSKA Architects (Seattle) and the Mwangaza Foundation (Kirkland) to design an orphanage in southwestern Tanzania for up to 160 children who have lost both parents to AIDS. The unique program will consist of 19 separate houses with 8 children and a live-in “Mom”. There will also be an assembly hall with a dining area & kitchen, health clinic and home economic classrooms for the local women. The goal of the project is to provide a clean and healthy environment for the children and give them the opportunity to become self-sufficient adults. The project will also provide small business opportunities for the local women through micro-financing

EWB-PSPP is providing technical expertise in the design of water wells, water storage & distribution system, rainwater catchment, solar powered electricity and hot water, fuel efficient cooking stoves, composting toilets and gray-water irrigation for gardens. They are also working with OSKA on the structural components and passive cooling of the buildings. The Mwangaza Foundation is already paying local villagers to make bricks from the onsite clay soil and termite mounds and has recently received an initial grant of $15,000 for the first well.

The EWB team’s first Assessment Trip is in May. Mark Reeves (Civil Engineer) and Glen Strachen (Hydrogeologist) will travel to Songea with Linda Hines (Foundation Director) to research and determine the best location for a well to provide a sustainable water source for the orphanage. They will also be doing preliminary assessments for the project’s other components and making contacts with Tanzania Ministry of Water and local well installers. A second team plans on making the Implementation Trip this Fall to supervise the drilling process.