Cal Poly Students Transform Education and Communities through Tanzania Build

By Caroline Roistacher

Architecture (ARCH) and architectural engineering (ARCE) students will participate in Tanzania Build again this year, traveling to Same, Tanzania, in East Africa, for three weeks. Once there, they will work with community members and get acquainted with the culture and resources used in construction.

Tanzania Build began around 2011 as a thesis project by ARCE alum David Lambert. He started as an undergraduate assisting a project in Kenya and, upon returning to Cal Poly to pursue his master’s degree, formed this project. Over time, it has grown and evolved.

This student-designed project aims to establish a polytechnic college in Same, Tanzania, to equip residents with valuable employment skills. Once completed, the college will offer quality, practical education to up to 1,200 students. The community will use buildings and projects as soon as they are ready, benefiting those using them throughout construction.

Left: Students Fabricating Wooden Trusses for Classroom Building
Right: Professor Fowler working with Matthew Chung and Benjamin Stewart installing the battens on plywood enclosure of classroom building

Five students are on the project planning team this year. Two of these students will attend this summer, accompanied by Lambert, Architecture Professor Tom Fowler and Interim Dean Kevin Dong.

During the spring quarter, students designed desks and a fabrication plan for building them for a local elementary school in Tanzania, along with designing two new wooden trusses that will replace the initial ones installed in the first built structure on the college campus land six years ago. This summer, they will build the desks, do classroom repairs and install the new trusses. Students have gained valuable design and documentation skills through scaled physical models, 2D drawings and full-scaled desk and truss connections prototypes. Their appreciation for detailed documentation and construction challenges deepens when they actively build their designs.

Lunch break under the canopy of classroom building

“It’s no longer just an academic paper exercise,” said Lambert. “This is something that’s actually getting built, and there’s a lot more that goes into it. Design drawings are not the end of a project – there is a huge amount of work and effort that goes on afterward.”

Third-year student Anna Langer is on the planning team for this year’s project. She notes how different participating in an experience such as Tanzania Build is from her typical education at Cal Poly.

“So far, it’s been a lot more practical – learning how to actually build what we’ve been designing has been a really big thing,” said Langer. “Also, just how much of an impact structures can have worldwide. It’s been really interesting to look at the different building materials and styles in Tanzania versus here.”

Professor Fowler with Local Elementary Students, w/ collaborators David Lambert and Dr. Norbert Mchomvu looking on

Students working on this project must understand the local culture and climate, including the sun’s path at the equator, rainfall and humidity. Students learn about local crafts, languages and the daily challenges Tanzanians face, such as water scarcity. Students research sustainable furniture design to minimize waste and understand the local environmental issues, including plastic waste management.

In addition to construction, students design templates for structural components and products crucial for the Tanzanian lifestyle, such as water collection systems and shading devices. This immersive experience helps students adapt to local customs and languages. The program has fostered strong community relationships and contributed economically to the Kilimanjaro region by supporting local businesses. This involvement has led to significant positive impacts, such as a local collaborator building his own house with the income earned through the program.

“What’s great about Tanzania? There are some of the friendliest hospitable people I’ve ever met in my life,” Fowler said. “They come up to you and they want to know about your family, who you are, your life. It’s just absolutely wonderful. Kevin, David and I have built some pretty amazing lifelong friendships with the people there. We stay at a place called the Elephant Motel – this has become our extended family. When we come, they all come out and greet us, and when we leave, they all come out and say goodbye. It’s really amazing.”

This program teaches students how to use limited, local materials to create noteworthy structures and buildings. Design education often focuses on Western contexts, which may not prepare them for designing in countries with limited resources. On the bright side, constraints, such as a restricted palette of materials and less advanced construction methods, can enhance creativity, as students must discover innovative solutions.

Additionally, students learn the value of working with a community and giving a community something it needs. Tanzania has the lowest educational attainment level in all of Africa; children are often unable to complete a primary K-12 education due to tasks they must take over at home. Therefore, this polytechnic college is necessary for skills like understanding car maintenance, construction and business, among others.

Lambert emphasizes the importance of communities coming together to address challenges, highlighting their mutual support. He has seen great strength and vitality in these communities and notes their capacity for growth and ability to learn and thrive independently.

“We’ve gone over, and we’ve built some great things and seeing those in and of themselves is an accomplishment,” Lambert said. “But then, also looking at the individuals that we work with and knowing what they could do five years ago versus what they can do now… that’s the real achievement for me and what I take the greatest amount of reward in — the human development rather than just the infrastructure development.”

Every year, we can apply for the University’s IRA fund to supplement the expenses of a portion of the trip. This covers some of the onsite costs for the students and faculty and room and board. However, students must also pay for other out-of-pocket expenses, such as airfare and university fees.

To support student participation in travel programs like Tanzania Build, please consider donating by clicking Give Now.