The importance of an appropriate Physical Learning Space.

Let's look at the the Pop Up University's classroom space.

It is important that a classroom is a comfortable, flexible, self sufficient learning space in a regugee camp context. It needs to be easy to transport, easy to set up and maintain.

Architects and designers around the world have designed and developed many different shelters and transportable building alternatives for refugees.

Ikea, the flat pack kings, have designed the Better Shelter with, and for, refugees. It is sustainable, light, strong, weather proof and has its own solar panels to run lights and charge electronics.

See more by clicking the picture below.

Not only is it useful as housing but it is the perfect solution for Pop Up University. It can be brought in, along with the other ICT resources, very easily. None of the components take up much space. They are all easy to move and simple to erect. Pop Up University is designed to be an instant portal to education. The teachers and students need not wait any longer.

Watch this video to see how the Better Shelter can be re-designed, or hacked, to become a number of other useful structures.

Another option for the Pop Up University is the Suricatta Systems modular building, Suri, developed for emergency housing in refugee camps. It too is weather proof, catches and stores water and solar power and is able to be modified and easily joined together to form larger buildings, such as classrooms and community centres.

See it in action in the video below.

Pop Up University is able to solve the problem of inadequate facilities for further education, faced by teachers and older students at Kakuma Refugee Camp. By providing instant learning spaces we can allow training to happen wherever it is needed.