In the middle of the scorching, semi-arid landscape surrounding Lake Turkana sits a 1,416-square-metre university offering young, vulnerable and underprivileged Kenyans a chance for a better life.
Learning Lions is an architecturally stunning Information Communication and Technology (ICT) campus, offering free education to Kenyan youth and linking them to global job and internship opportunities.
The institution offers a one-year training program that is split into 3 Levels, starting with a 6-week intensive peer-led digital literacy boot camp where learners are introduced to technology and personal and professional development skills needed for the digital age.
Inspired by the shape of termite molds, the architectural design of the iconic building was done by one of Africa’s leading architects and Pritzker prize winner, Francis Kéré.
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Details of the architectural design of the University
According to the founders of the campus, it was established in a semi-arid environment where poor infrastructure severely limits sources of income, to empower the most vulnerable individuals.
Therefore, its construction required an intricate and sustainable design to ensure that the needs of the institution, an IT campus in the semi desert location, and the learners were met without interruption.
Inside, the building are several amenities including classrooms, versatile workshops, and co-working spaces, complemented by storage, administrative, and technical facilities.
Furthermore, Francis Kéré used Innovative construction methods to create windows and enough ventilation for the hot weather. He used locally sourced quarry stones finished with a terracotta-colored concrete plaster.
The technique used for construction was low cost and allowed for the inclusion of local sources of labor from the neighboring community. Also, the building is painted red to resemble termite mounds.
“From the very beginning the project has had collaborative building and learning at its heart. We had imagined an educational facility that blended with the striking natural landscape that surrounds it, mirroring the ingenious structures built by the terminates close by,” Kéré said in a past interview.
Like termite mounds, the building features three tall towers used for ventilation to regulate indoor temperatures. Each tower helps in cooling the building’s interiors by drawing warm air upwards and introducing fresh air through adjustable low-level openings covered with woven straw shades.
The method used for this construction is known as the stack effect.
Additionally, the building is fitted with roof terraces where learners can enjoy the immaculate views of Lake Turkana.
Jobs and Internship Opportunities for Learners
Learners who go through the programs at Learning Lions offer a variety of services to global companies like designing websites, logos, social media content, flyers and brochures, videos and 2D animations.
Moreover, the learners join Digital Lions, a Fair Trade verified digital agency which is also a recognized supplier of the German Fair-Trade Association.
Organizations are able to tap into the talent at campus through the Lion Apprenticeship Program and work remotely with the professionals. The institution offers them infrastructure with excellent working conditions, designed specifically for digital remote work.
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