Donate to help build a new school in The Gambia!

The primary objective of the Eivor Björkman Elementary project is to build a new elementary school in the locality of Ghana Town, situated in The Gambia. The school will be constructed using rammed earth, an ancient building technique that has recently seen a resurgence due to its cost-effectiveness and sustainability. In recognition of its significance, the Eivor Björkman Elementary School project was officially designated as an ASF (Architects Sans Frontières) project in the year 2022.

In the year 2014, the Eivor Björkman Foundation, founded by midwife Eivor Björkman, organized a study trip to The Gambia. During this excursion, the delegation paid a visit to a school within the village of Ghana Town, a coastal fishing community. The school in Ghana Town, founded in 2011, primarily serves the underprivileged children in the region. Unfortunately, it is currently accommodated in simple structures ill-suited for educational purposes. The existing facilities lack essential amenities such as a playground, cafeteria, or teachers' lounge, and have suffered extensive damage from termite infestations, flooding, and inclement weather. To compound the situation, the school's lease with the property owner has been terminated, leaving the children without access to a school.

In 2018, The Eivor Björkman foundation bought a site in Ghana Town and is currently in the planning stages of constructing a new school. Collaborating with architectural firms Detail Group and EarthLAB Studio, the project envisions the creation of eight classrooms capable of accommodating 380 students, a versatile assembly hall designed for both students and adult evening classes, and the provision of a suitable schoolyard. The overarching goal is to offer the children of Ghana Town a socially sustainable educational institution where they can flourish and develop.

Detail Group has conducted two on-site visits to Gambia, collaborating closely with the Eivor Björkman Foundation, during which they carried out an initial comprehensive analysis of the surrounding area. This site analysis, combined with extensive dialogues involving local organizations, educational institutions, students, educators, and parents, has resulted in the formulation of an architectural proposal developed by Detail Group. An integral part of the project is the intention to construct all load-bearing walls using rammed earth, a locally accessible building material in The Gambia.

Throughout the course of the year, the school project has garnered invaluable support from master's students at Chalmers University of Technology. These students, during the pursuit of their master's theses, dedicated substantial time to be physically present in Gambia, where they meticulously conducted measurements and cartographic assessments of the designated school site. Furthermore, they delved into an in-depth exploration of local environmental conditions and available building materials. This collaborative engagement has proved exceptionally fruitful, with the physical presence of these students on-site significantly enhancing the progress of the school project.

As of now, the Eivor Björkman Foundation has secured the necessary land plot and architectural blueprints for the forthcoming school. The remaining task is to raise the requisite funds for the actual construction of the building. The financial contributions garnered through the GoFundMe campaign will be exclusively allocated to fund the construction phase of the new school.

Thank you in advance,

Eivor Björkman Gambia Aid

Detail Group

EarthLAB Studio