How a tent can change the future of a generation?
In Cameroon, children want nothing more than to go to school, so that they can study and escape from poverty. But since the school is three hours away, this is not possible and they have to work and do the housework. Access to education is a basic right, which is why we at Brussels Airlines believe in this innovative initiative 'Maggie goes to Cameroon', which will have a large, fast and sustainable impact.
Maggie is a multifunctional tent of 100 square meters that can easily and quickly provide a dormitory for students. The tent is durable and adaptable and can last up to 15 years. It has a double wall and walls are filled with organic material such as sand, straw or even waste. This way the tent transforms into an almost passive home. Since the Maggie is upgradable and a semi-fixed structure, it can serve many roles from a simple dorm or library to a living space and even a hospital.
By building a kind of boarding school, we give children the opportunity to study. In August of this year the Maggie team flew to Cameroon to build two tents together with the local population. These two tents will accommodate 64 children in the region of Odin Oto.
'Maggie Program vzw' is a non-profit department of the Belgian DMOA architects. Their goal is to start small-scale construction projects with innovative solutions in affected areas, emerging countries, developing countries and refugee camps through their architectural expertise. And in this way to give underprivileged children access to education.
This is how a tent can make the difference for 64 children.
This is how a tent changes the future of a generation.
By using the Maggie shelters, children in Cameroon enjoy education as a basic condition for a better future, while they would otherwise (probably) end up in a hopeless situation.
Follow the Maggie project:
- http://maggie-program.org/cameroon/