"Juntos" - A kindergarden project for Sao Tome´
Anhalt University’s UNITY design-build program is launching its next humanitarian project: the “Nova Canaã” kindergarten for the rural community of Água Izé, São Tomé and Príncipe. Continuing a legacy of student-led construction initiatives across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, this project brings together students, faculty, and development partners to address urgent educational needs while fostering professional growth and intercultural understanding.
Água Izé’s current kindergarten is overcrowded and structurally inadequate, exposing over 75 children to unsafe and disruptive learning conditions. The Nova Canaã project aims to replace this with a modern, single-storey facility offering well-ventilated, naturally lit classrooms, resilient construction against tropical weather, and inclusive features such as accessible washrooms. Beyond early childhood education, the building will serve as a multipurpose community hub for meetings and adult learning.
Images and Plans
Technical Description
Scheduled for construction in summer 2026, the project is in the fundraising and detailed design phase, with a €50,000 budget goal. Nova Canaã embodies the belief that “there is no future without education,” striving to provide a safe, supportive, and community-centered space for Água Izé’s youngest generation. The single-storey, 200 m² facility will provide a safe, inclusive, and climate-adapted environment for early childhood education and community activities.
The design prioritizes passive cooling through cross-ventilation, deep eaves, and shaded courtyards, minimizing reliance on mechanical systems and ensuring year-round comfort. A simplified structural grid and the use of local materials will facilitate maintenance by local craftsmen, supporting long-term sustainability.
The project is realized through collaboration with four partner organizations: WEC Deutschland e.V. (logistics), Missão AMEM (local NGO), Mirador e.V. (development consulting and fundraising), and Anhalt University’s Faculty of Architecture, Facility Management, Design and Geoinformation. The student team comprises eight Real Estate Management and twelve Architecture students, under the academic supervision of Prof. Dr. Michael Kuhn and Prof. Dr. Claus Dießenbacher. Project coordination and advisory roles are filled by Michael Bieler, Tobias Rümmler and Ian Kenning Moreno, with Mirador e.V. monitoring sustainability and community engagement.
The Nova Canaã Kindergarten stands as a model for hands-on, socially responsible architectural education, aiming to “gift a future” to the children of Água Izé through innovative, sustainable, and community-anchored design.