A teaching fellow in architectural practice at NMITE (the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering) has helped to spread the institute’s reputation in the field of engineering by contributing to a humanitarian project in Tanzania.
Ben Shirley (pictured above) joined NMITE’s award-winning Centre for Advanced Timber Technology (CATT) in October 2022 and quickly became involved with the timber engineering and design (TED) courses, a series of specialised, concise programmes tailored for professionals within the UK’s built environment sector. An evolution of the innovative 12-week part-time courses (TED1 and TED2), this initiative reflects NMITE’s proactive approach to sustainable construction education, addressing learners’ need for access to short courses designed to suit individual circumstances.
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Having recently been nominated for UK Construction Week’s Rising Star award, Ben’s expertise has not only enriched NMITE’s curriculum but also extended beyond the UK to a humanitarian project in East Africa. The Association for Environment Conscious Building (AECB) is exploring a new programme of work, connecting with experts and practitioners working in difficult socio-economic contexts in climate-vulnerable countries. An overheating global climate is posing new challenges for constructing (and retrofitting) buildings and an ‘ecovillage’ project in Tanzania, two hours north of Dar Es Salaam, offered an opportunity for Shirley to support the project, playing a key role. The ecovillage, a project set up by the UK-based charity Islamic Help, aims to provide a sustainable living environment for up to 50 orphaned girls.
‘Through our TED courses at NMITE, we are dedicated to fostering a deep understanding of sustainable engineering practices that can influence global initiatives,’ Shirley said. ‘Participating in the Tanzania ecovillage project allowed me to bring these principles to life, providing both immediate solutions and helping to educate on sustainable building practices.’
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Shirley was recruited Andy Simmonds, CEO of AECB and partner in Simmonds Mills Architects, for his extensive skills in travel, carpentry and architectural design. Simmonds invited Shirley to work with ecovillage staff in the refurbishment of a ten-person accommodation building. Shirley’s efforts in leading the local staff team in rebuilding storm- and wood-boring-wasp-damaged roofs have helped secure safe and sustainable accommodation for the orphaned girls.
Beyond the practical aspects of construction, Shirley also imparted essential carpentry skills to local workers, fostering long-term self-sufficiency and upskilling within the community.