Irfa Primary School

Irfa is located in an arid lowland area of Ethiopia where communities are particularly vulnerable. They rely on highly unreliable rainfall for their livelihoods and frequently experience drought. As a result, crop failures and livestock losses are common, and many families struggle to secure enough food.

Irfa Primary School was originally constructed nearly 20 years ago by a British NGO. Its design was unique, with classrooms built as two large round tukul structures made entirely from local materials. Although the outer walls were crafted from beautifully hand-smoothed stones, the traditional materials inside had deteriorated severely due to termites and the harsh climate, leaving the buildings at risk of collapse.

When we began working with the community, we developed a design that maximised the existing foundations and preserved as much of the original stonework as possible. With the support of an incredibly enthusiastic community, every stone was carefully removed and reused in the reconstruction.

In 2019, six sustainably built classrooms were completed and reopened, providing a cool, safe learning environment for more than 700 students.

Plus, our UK-based project partners, Lalibela Trust carried out work that enabled a nearby water reservoir to provide reliable safe water to the area.