There is inspiration and hope in architecture. Where once there was no home and no building, today stands a four-story mid-rise, and because that building exists, more people in Africa who went without critical medical and dental care will soon be able to receive it.
When Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty Owner and CEO Dean Jones attended the grand opening of a new residence hall at St. Francis University in Tanzania, that’s what he saw in the building. The hall, or hostel as they refer to in the Ifakara area, will house over 340 female students while they attend the university. It was inaugurated by Trevor Jones on September 26, 2019, and was blessed by the Bishop of Ifakara, Rt. Rev. Salutaris Libena. The Bishop named the building St. Francis Faustina, who was inspired by the biblical messenger for the hope it provides.
Tanzania is not a country without technology or modernization, but it is still a place where many villagers in outlying areas live in mud huts or modest homes crafted of hand-made bricks and metal sheeting, with metal or straw roofs. Many travel miles on end, from villages to larger urban centers, to seek the medical services they need. While medical dispensaries in some villages are helpful for doctor referrals, they typically don’t address any urgent care. The simple task of seeing a doctor for an ache or pain, or a dentist for a toothache, let alone a more serious medical event, can feel insurmountable when you may be limited to the back of a motorbike for the hours-long ride to a clinic that may or may not be able to see you.
A CATALYST
This situation doesn’t have to be so dire because, with education and student housing, these villages can continue to modernize by adding more doctors that live in and service their remote communities. It just takes a catalyst to get it done in a few years instead of decades.
Being a part of the catalyst for change is important to Jones, who, with the Jones Family Foundation, donated the funds to make this new residence hall a reality. The housing, designed for young female medical students attending the school, provides a safe environment for the women to attend by allowing them to live on campus near their classes.
“It’s a sprawling environment and this residence provides some much-needed density along with inspiration for a brighter future,” explains Jones. “The goal is to provide the girls with a safe place to live so they can focus on their studies—not merely surviving but thriving. Their parents might encourage them to go to university but without proper accommodations, they might be sleeping in compromised environments and walking in the dark to get to school on time — and that’s where bad things can happen. Such concern over safety and logistics limits the number of potential graduates.”
The foundation first contributed funds to build the nearby water tower. That project helped spur the construction of the residence hall and will make other building projects possible.
“Sometimes architecture can be inspiring for people because it leads them to want something greater for their community, and they can see promise and should have hope and opportunity,” says Jones. “The water tower is a beacon for the future.”
THE CLINICAL NEED
In the villages surrounding Ifakara, something as simple as a toothache can be fatal. Without the convenience of a nearby dentist, for instance, an infection left untreated could lead to death. Sadly, the region also has one of the highest infant mortality and maternal death rates for developing countries—an unfortunate reality of villagers not having immediate access to localized medical attention.
By making it easier for more young women to be educated in the sciences, and in particular, medicine, school leaders hope it will create sustainable medical infrastructures in each village. When students graduate, they can return to their communities and offer these otherwise hard to find clinical services.
According to Jones, “It’s a demonstration of progress, of modernization, of hope, it provides jobs, it creates sustainability.”
Jones also notes the generous gift by his parents, Trevor and Dixie Jones of Vancouver, BC, Canada, which was designed to, in part, encourage graduating students to later give back to their communities.
THE CELEBRATION
Upon completion of the project, members of the foundation, including Jones, his father Trevor, son Cole, and family friends Ken and Nancy Morrison of the Provision Charitable Foundation of Vancouver, BC, Canada, visited St. Francis University campus for the ribbon-cutting and opening. Students welcomed their guests in song, dance, and cheers, proudly donning their school uniforms. Members of local government, the Catholic Church, the development team, and community leaders were also in attendance and the event later made it to the Canadian High Commission, noting on Twitter the significance of the development.
Congratulations to Provision Charitable Foundation of Vancouver and Canadians Trevor and Dixie Jones who gifted St. Francis University College of Health and Allied Sciences at Ifakara with a four floor female residence. Photo of Cdns and the Bishop of Ifakara at the inauguration. pic.twitter.com/zT41bJobUn
— High Comm. of Canada (@CanadaTanzania) October 3, 2019
Speakers included a South African architect, Kerstin Fourie of EMI who had worked on the building and remarked on the needs of women and women in leadership. The female students listening, some of whom would potentially call this hall home, were present and part of the celebration. Jones was particularly taken with a pair of students’ rendition of the Alicia Keys song, “Girl on Fire.”
Since 2010, St. Francis University College of Health and Allied Sciences has grown the student population from 46 to 1,068 undergraduate students. As more students, like the 350 women now living on campus are able to attend the school, there are plans to establish post-graduate programs in public health, medicine, human resources for health, and entomology. In 10 years, the student population is estimated to reach 6,000.
According to Ken Morrison, the building will change many lives—and it’s just the beginning. Jones has plans, along with the Jones Family Foundation, to further support the growing infrastructure at the university. He’s also exploring some individual gifts alongside Realogics Sotheby’s International Realty, to secure farming equipment to help the university harvest their fertile lands while awaiting future development phases.
“It’s changing there, and the local leaders think we’re at a pivot point in Tanzania for cultural change with the empowerment of women,” adds Jones. “It was a gift for our family to receive such a warm and joyful experience and also make a difference.”
Explore the full plans for St Francis University of Health and Allied Sciences >>