10 years of supporting construction education in The 'Heart of Africa'

10 years ago with the help of our supporters and the local community we opened Stand Up & Build Technical School in Burundi, 'The Heart of Africa'. The country remains the poorest nation in the world with a gross national income per capita of only $220 (for reference the UK's is $48,866 and Kenya's is $1,950) and our graduates are determined to use their new skills to help improve things for their country, families and communities.

The school continues to go from strength to strength thanks to the hard work of the headmaster, teachers, pupils, the local education office and the community. Places at the school are in great demand, 27 students joined the 3 year academic programme this year and we continue to have around 25% females attending the school - far higher than the norm for a technical school in the region.

Construction skills are crucial for Burundi to develop its infrastructure and buildings. Child mortality is extremely high - largely due to poor drinking water quality and sanitation. Health centres, roads, irrigation, homes and general infrastructure need to be developed for life to improve for the people of Burundi.

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world" (Nelson Mandela)

Graduates of Stand Up & Build Technical School have gone on to achieve the following - improving infrastructure and enhancing the quality of life for people in the community.

Graduates who are enhancing their local community:

• Jean Marie Miburo working in construction at the OBUHA housing association
• Slvestre Nayabagabo working at the Burundi Road Agency
• Sylvestre Nkezintwari working at the Burundi water and power distribution company
• Several graduates working on the surfacing of roads and pavements in Muyinga - constructing buildings and bridges
• Donatien Ndabumvirbusa constructing houses in Muyinga Province
• Stany Ngabonziza constructing houses in Muyinga town
• Didier Tuyisenge constructing buildings for the Muyinga Commune Office
• Innocent Ntirampeba constructing houses and manufacturing bricks
• Fabrice Irakoze constructing houses
• Oscar Ntibarikure constructing houses

Graduates who are enhancing the regional community:

• Gaston, Cyriaque, Samson and Jesus are working in Kenya

Graduates who have successfully completed University:

• Ninteretse Bertrand , Denis Nibitanga , Aaron Benimana, Juma Niyonzima, Alli Itigetse, Souvenir Dusengimana and Sonny Yahya Dushime

Graduates who are currently studying at University:

• Justine Nihorimbere, Alice Akimana, Francois Bizimana, Zoulfa Ineza, Jen Bosco Shemezimana, Dieudonne Ndayizeye, Sarah Mwamini and Gervais Mvuyekure

Reflections on 10 years...

When the Governor of Muyinga first donated the land to us in 2011 the task looked daunting. The community built a school literally with their bare hands and using materials funded through the blood, sweat (and tears) of volunteers from the UK.

The students have embraced this opportunity and graduates have developed specialised skills to give them employment opportunities that simply were not available before Stand Up & Build Technical School was created. Their work is now benefiting the local community of Muyinga, the country of Burundi and now spreading into other parts of Africa - improving infrastructure, driving innovation and promoting sustainability in the construction industry.

What next?

Our dream is to complete the campus, enabling the build of dormitories, a laboratory and sports facilities to improve the learning outcomes by increasing time available to study and also build great environment for students to enjoy life together.

We hope that graduates of Stand Up and Build Technical School will continue to support the school too, acting as role models for the students and showing them how to develop a career in construction. As you can see above, this is already happening.

Let us know it you can help too.

A huge thank you!

There are so many people to thank for supporting the school. Here are a few:

Máire Litchfield who overcame her fear of heights to raise funds by skydiving and start us off

Janet Kidner , Philip Morrison and their MBA team who kick-started the school build with a massive donation raised by climbing Kilimanjaro

Simon Gorski and the GUVNORS Club for donations, support, encouragement and advice during our start up phase

Pascal Mittermaier and Lendlease for the chance to raise funds during the course of doing our work. Truly innovative

Ian Hazard for advising on the design and concept of the school based upon his experience in Ladakh

Rupesh Varsani for the deep thinking and contacts that were so essential to launching the project

Andy Hibbert and National Grid for supplying and refurbishing computers, Hassan Dahag at DHL for arranging the complex transportation into Burundi

Andrew Langridge and the team at Geoff Herrington Foundation who have provided funding for many years to help students who are suffering from hardship, cover the travel costs for volunteer teachers and provide access to the internet for Computer Aided Design studies and teacher preparation - all of which help to improve the prospects for the students

Chris MacNicol CEng MIStructE , Astrid Kagan , Siddharth N. and 奥雅纳 for coming to Burundi, engaging the school and defining a masterplan for development of the campus

Caroline Mackay who raised a fantastic amount of money for the school

FINHAM PARK SCHOOL in Coventry for raising funds to help develop the school

MOORDOWN ST JOHN'S CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL parliament in Bournemouth, Laurence Wilbraham and his colleagues at Rugby Rotary International for continuing to raise funds for a new toilet block.

Nicky Buckley, Melissa Watson, Tony Buckley and the Ashby St Ledgers community for mobilising to raise funds

Steve Armstrong and Andy Dodson and their families for generous donations and fundraising

All our other friends, colleagues and family who have all donated time, funding, encouragement and support throughout.

Lesley Fenemore , Nicky Buckley and Tony Buckley for the funds raised through Amahoro Decor, providing the chance for the community in Muyinga to support themselves by creating wonderful traditional baskets

Eraste Bigirimana, Jean Berchmans Mweningoma, Ndacayisaba Paisible and Methode NDAYISHIMIYE for the vision, tenacity and commitment to develop the school under governance of the Anglican Church and alongside their other agricultural, health and disability project

Andrew Dodson , Nicky Buckley and Steve Armstrong for all the drive and direction as Trustees of Stand Up & Build, who continue to fundraise and also donate all their time and travel for free.

Here's to the next 10 years!

Tim Fenemore

[email protected]

www.standupandbuild.org

Reconciliation Through Education