A collaborative project to expand an early childhood centre in a poverty-stricken area of South Africa, developed during COVID lockdowns and led by a QUT academic has been named a winner in the UIA 2030 Awards for Sustainable Development at the World Urban Forum today.
QUT Industry Fellow Adjunct Associate Professor Kathi Holt, from the School of Biology and Environmental Science, assembled a multidisciplinary, pro bono team, from Australia and South Africa, of architects, scientists, engineers, teachers, artists and philanthropists who worked solely online during 2020-2021 to design the expansion of Angels’ Care Early Childhood Development Centre in KwaZulu Natal.
In July this year, the International Union of Architects selected the design project as a finalist in the UIA 2030 Awards, a partnership with UN Habitat, from more than 100 entries from five global regions.
Today the UIA announced the project as one of two winners in the good health and well-being category of 13 finalists.
Professor Holt said Angels’ Care Centre provides severely disadvantaged children with clothing, nutritious meals, healthcare, education, healthy play, improved safety and crisis care for sexual abuse.
“The Centre services an informal settlement known as Shiyabazali which has no organised housing, no tenure, sanitation, electricity or running water, with the added burden of mass unemployment, disease, substance abuse and rife gender-based violence,” Professor Holt said.
“In the words of Nelson Mandela, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world’ and Angels’ Care Centre believes that without access to a high-quality education there can never be social upliftment’.”
Professor Holt said the initial feasibility and scoping study led from Australia shaped the concept designs for a state-of-the-art centre in collaboration with Urban Play and 7 Senses in Brisbane, and FGG Architects in South Africa.
Photo: Angels' Care, Dane Turvey Phography
“Design is not part of their world. We incorporated well-designed, sensory spaces, and multifunction, playable landscapes that offer social, emotional, physical and cognitive stimulation for students and staff,” she said.
“Embarking on this project, we proposed that local artists would contribute to the Centre in some capacity – wall murals, pottery classes and so on.”
“After exploring a few options, ceramic artists from luxury African brand Ardmore now deliver the art program at the Centre, and their partner Thembelihle School, the independent, primary school that also serves the settlement.”
Professor Holt said Angels’ Care Centre fundraised in South Africa and the USA and this four-year combined effort brought the Centre to fruition with its opening in January 2024.
“QUT input includes the Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy which has provided ongoing advice on water purification, waste recycling and the development of a circular economy including a community garden at the campus.
“The Science Faculty has donated 48 iPads and seven microscopes to Thembelihle School.
Photo: Angels' Care Centre/Dane Turvey Photography
“From the outset the design team’s approach was based on leading-edge research and design-led thinking informed by the UN Habitat Urban Agenda whose key principles require a nature/net-positive development.
“We targeted specific Sustainable Development Goals including health and wellbeing, sustainability, and climate change, while providing the spatial and design requirements to support and nurture the children attending the Centre.”
Professor Holt said she and her colleagues felt privileged to be part of the project and she plans to bring design and science to other extremely disadvantaged children to support their hopes and aspirations for a brighter future.
Professor Helen Wallace, Head of QUT’s School of Biology and Environmental Science, said her School and the QUT Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy were delighted to support Angels’ Care Centre’s work.
“This project highlights the power of cross-disciplinary collaboration and aligns with our other School’s projects in Africa and the South Pacific to improve the health and wellbeing of disadvantaged people.”
Professor Holt accepted the award and gave a one-minute presentation via Zoom to the World Urban Forum in Cairo today.
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