An architecture student got hot and sweaty – and her hands dirty – turning her university-taught skills into real-world construction. Hana Riad tells Maya Zamman about her life-changing trip to South Africa to build a new school.
They set off to travel thousands of miles to a poverty-hit part of Africa not knowing what to expect – three weeks later they returned with memories and achievements they will never forget.
A group of about 10 University of Nottingham students helped build a preschool in rural South Africa to better the community for these young children.
For 20-year-old architecture student Hana Riad from Wollaton, Nottingham, the trip was far more than just a university project.
In the small village of Malesa, Limpopo, Hana and the rest of her group worked extremely hard to complete this preschool that was in a low-income area.
She wanted to learn what true architecture meant and how it can change people’s lives.
“The whole purpose of me choosing architecture was because I wanted to give back to the community and from the start, I decided on Nottingham because of the South Africa trip,” she says.
After months of designing and scrapping unwanted creations, Hana and the rest of the students eventually decided on the perfect design.
But building the school itself was an entirely different experience.
“This was a project that was real life and when we were designing, we had to get this right. We put our whole hearts and souls into this knowing that it was actually going to get built and we needed to make it as best as we can because kids will be using this,” she says.
The project consisted of two phases and was organised through Charity Education Africa.
Students from the University of Pretoria in South Africa also helped, mainly in phase one building the main framework of the preschool.
Hana knew that this was going to be demanding work and she felt humbled already once her first day started.
“We’d leave the farm at half six in the morning and get to the site for half seven,” she says.
Hana explained how hard but rewarding the experience was, from using heavy machinery to painting to seeing the final project complete.
“The skirting, tiling, electrics, plumbing, decking, ramping, the cladding, the roof, the concrete foundation, literally everything,” she says.
“We built it, no one else built it,” Hana says proudly, admitting that the first few days definitely pushed her out of her comfort zone as she barely had any experience with the heavy machinery and power tools.
The pressure got to her and at first was very nerve wracking.
However, she overcame her fear the more she used the equipment.
“Initially that was the most challenging part, but it ended up being the part I loved most,” she says laughing.
The deadline was approaching for the school’s opening ceremony and tension was rising between the students.
It was the day before the ceremony and everyone was digging, cutting in the dark and doing the finishing touches.
Nothing could have prepared Hana for that eventful evening, especially because she was shovelling and grafting on her birthday.
Everyone was worried they would not complete it in time but they were determined to finish it for the children and the headteacher (called Salome).
“We had so much left to do and we ended up working till 11pm that day, we were cutting in the dark, shovelling in the dark and finishing the internal bits too,” she says.
All that worry and stress soon disappeared once they had finally completed it and for Hana the achievement was much more emotional.
The team finished the building on her 20th birthday.
“Honestly, I don’t think I’d have it any other way because finishing it on my birthday was such a nice feeling,” she says smiling.
After an extremely tiring day, Hana was surprised with a cake from her team and the farm staff shortly before midnight.
It was a touching moment for her, and she was very grateful to be around such kind people.
However, nothing compared to the emotions for the opening ceremony the following morning.
Salome, parents, local residents and of course the children all gathered together for this joyful moment.
Hana says: “They were all giving speeches and prayers and kids came and did traditional dances.”
The one moment that stood out to Hana and her team was handing the keys over to Salome, who had supported the students since they first arrived.
Hana explained how Salome was there on site everyday helping when she didn’t need to be.
And when the keys were officially hers, Hana says “She cried when she got them because she was so happy with the school and for the children.”
Hana and the team ended up in tears full of emotion.
Not only because of Salome’s reaction but because the preschool was a new place for children to learn and be safe from the village as the school is located slightly outside from it.
The school meant a lot to them since the village itself wasn’t safe.
Returning home to Nottingham after having a surreal three weeks abroad, Hana says that the experience was something else and she would undoubtedly do it again.
She and her team created close bonds with each other and actually decided to all go back together in five years’ time to see how Salome, the kids and the school are doing.
Despite her trip costing about £2,800, Hana doesn’t regret it one bit.
To anyone facing an opportunity but doubting themselves, she advises don’t listen and just do it.
She says “As cringey as it may sound, money comes back but memories don’t. 100% go for it because it’s a once in lifetime opportunity.”
For Hana it was unquestionably worth it, especially seeing Salome’s reaction at the ceremony.
