Global Centre

Daigo six and seven embedded projects

The Daigo Project was piloted and embedded into MArch Architecture and the MA Education Early Years.

In January 2023, MArch Architecture students and a staff member collaborated with architecture students from the Gambian University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology to explore the current urban environmental issues in the Gambia.

The aim was to respond to these issues with suggestions using the shared knowledge of case studies and the lived experience of the local residents.

The project was made possible by the Daughters of Africa Foundation (DOAF), who connected students from the two universities.

In February 2023 the Education teams came with a member of staff to observe the Gambian school system and visited early years to senior secondary schools. They learned and observed Gambian teaching methodologies and shared skills with Gambian youth leaders and teachers by delivering sports and creative activities to the children. Their experience has impacted and inspired their own learning journey.

Daigo four project

The online delivery continued in January 2022 with MArch Architecture students and seven students from The Gambian University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology. The collaborative project aims to raise awareness and create conceptual foundations to counter the excessive use of concrete as a building material in The Gambia. Through in-depth research, based on the current problems encountered in the production of concrete blocks in The Gambia and on the most common waste materials, we have created a guide informed by alternative materials and how to value waste.

Daigo five project

In June 2022 students from across the University participated and collaborated several online projects with trainee teachers from the Gambian University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology. They shared skills using creative practice, looking at developing an online business using craft such as the Iris Folding.

They also looked at promoting healthy living in the Gambia using campaigns and social media. These were successfully delivered by UWE Bristol students from Law, Public Health, Cyber Security, Graphic Arts and International Management.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all the onsite delivery in the Gambia has been suspended for UWE Bristol students until travel safety is back to normal.

UWE Bristol and DOAF have created new opportunities for students and participants in the Gambia to share skills online in the Digital Daigo Project from March to July 2021. Ten students from each faculty will be recruited by their subject leads. These specific subjects are identified by our Gambian partners as essential skills and knowledge needed for the communities.

The identified areas are:

• Law – human rights
• Architecture – eco-build
• Art and design – working with Gambian artists and the National Museum of Gambia on African heritage
• Women’s health – reproduction, childbirth, female genital mutilation (FGM) and nutrition

From 3–17 January 2020 and 6–23 June 2019, 42 UWE Bristol students across faculties undertook two-week team projects in the Gambia and trained 700 people across Gambian communities. This was with the aim of:

• enabling multidisciplinary practice and clear understanding of collaborations across the University and partners in Gambia
• enabling them to connect their specialism to enterprise in African communities and directly share skills and knowledge with local young people in a sustainable way
• broadening their knowledge of global realities and fostering international mobility.

Students delivered workshops and training to a range of participants, including archiving for staff at the National Museum, first aid and health to trainee nursing associates, schools, sports rehabilitation to coaches and physiotherapists.

Students also provided training to local builders using local eco materials and built an outdoor canteen for the Centre for Street and Trafficked Children. Youth leaders volunteered from a range of Gambian organisations alongside UWE Bristol students in order gain new skills, enabling learning sustainability of the projects.

The Daigo Project works with the University’s aims and priorities of forming strategic links that enable staff and students’ academic activities to make a global impact in sustainable economy and society. The project enables our students to realise their best potential and to contribute positively to society.