Madagascar’s First 3D Printed School Completed

Early last year, we introduced Thinking Huts, an American nonprofit organization that’s main goal is to help children gain access to education in underprivileged areas in the world. To make that possible, the organization, which was founded in 2015, relies on additive manufacturing technologies allowing them to build schools in a more ecological and sustainable way. In addition to that, 3D printing allows them to reduce construction waste and time. Recently, Thinking Huts proudly announced that their pilot project, Madagascar’s first-ever 3D printed school, located in Fianarantsoa in south-central Madagascar, has finally been completed and officially opened its doors.

The project called “Bougainvillea” was originally started seven years ago as an initiative to fulfill the worldwide need for educational institutions in underserved areas. The organization, which plans to build more schools of the same type, chose Madagascar as the first location for their projects for a variety of reasons. One of the main ones is the deep need for schools on the East African Island. As a UNESCO report states, 97% of Malagasy children at the age of 10 do not even possess the reading comprehension required to read a single sentence, placing Madagascar among the countries with the greatest educational disadvantages worldwide. With overcrowding and long travel distances being the main problem, the estimated number of schools needed on Malagasy soil is around 22000.

Maggie Grout, CEO, and founder of Thinking Huts

For Thinking Huts founder and CEO Maggie Grout, the idea of providing access to education for those in need also has a very personal aspect: “I was adopted from China when I was a baby, and I am here today because of my parents and the opportunities I achieved through education. I founded Thinking Huts when I was 15 after becoming fascinated with the potential of technology to create architectural solutions for a world of good. My life could have followed a very different timeline, and I do not take that for granted. My hope is to find a solution that increases global access to education because it is at the root of empowering people to lift themselves out of poverty.”