Guernsey charity helps sets up schools in Kenya

The EJ Rihoy Charitable Trust has funded the design of mobile classrooms for Nairobi, in Kenya.

Since 2000, the Guernsey building contractor Rihoy & Son has supported vulnerable communities worldwide through the Ellen Jane Rihoy Trust, which is named after Jeremy and Gavin Rihoy's mother.

Their most recent initiative looks to secure educational facilities in Kenya.

Many schools in urban areas of the East African country are constructed on land they don't own, so when landlords sell, the children and teachers are forced to move and leave the buildings behind.

The EJ Rihoy Charitable Trust contacted an architect to solve this problem and design Mobile Classroom Units.

Two of the colour-coded, easy-to-build kits have been built so far for just £1,700 each, which is 80% cheaper than a traditional brick building.

They can be assembled and dissembled in eight hours and transported in two pick-up trucks.

There is enough space for 18 students, a rainwater collection system, and temperature regulation, and the elevated design keeps flood water and wildlife away.

The charity plans to make the designs open access so other places and organisations can use them for free.

Trustee Dan Taylor hopes the initiative will create lasting change.

"This project is about more than just classrooms - it’s about adaptability, resilience, and empowerment.

"By investing in innovative, community-led solutions, we’re ensuring that children have a place to learn, even in the face of adversity."

The assembly process also provides valuable skills training for local unemployed youth.

Trust Chair Dr Liz Rihoy has a plan for the future.

"I have already taken quite a lot of people from UN and charitable agencies to visit the site. They are quite excited and will continue to roll this out elsewhere.

"Our intention is not to run around building hundreds of these. Our intention is to come up with a design that other people will then adapt and move forward.

"We are currently working on modifications of this design to make it out of waste materials. We’re looking at three more prototypes; one is out of invasive species, another is going to be out of recycled plastic, and the third is out of recycled glass."

@islandfm 🇬🇬 A Guernsey charity has funded the creation of Mobile Classroom Units in Kenya 🇰🇪🧑‍🏫 Dr Liz Rihoy explains why they are needed… #guernsey #channelislands #kenya #school #charity #education #change ♬ original sound - Island FM