FAQs

Why Madagascar?

We have an on-the-ground team, local support, and connections within government. We considered seven countries and chose to begin our work with Madagascar based on the validated need for schools, stable political outlook in an emerging economy, the opportunity for growth, as well as renewable energy potential. The children and communities we serve walk miles and miles to reach the nearest, often overcrowded, school and there is rarely existing infrastructure.

A large factor was forming local partnerships that share our mission of promoting education and community involvement.

• Madagascar receives an average of 2800 sunshine hours per year which allows us to implement solar energy to power our schools.

• 92% of the population lives on less than $2 USD per day.

• 64% of the population is under 25 years of age. This means that with population growth, education is urgently needed to support economic health.
  

How can I help?

There are a variety of ways to support us! Volunteer, run a marathon, host an event with friends and family, become a corporate sponsor, or join our Hive as a monthly donor! Learn more here.

Why 3D printing? How does sustainability factor in?

• A traditional school may take months — even years — to build. By leveraging 3D printing, we are building schools in a fraction of the time and can exponentially reduce costs with economies of scale.

• 3D printed buildings also use up to 50% less concrete than the average building and shorten construction time to a matter of days while supporting infrastructure integrity.
  

How are we different?

We work with established partners on the ground that will oversee the daily operations of our schools and supply teachers. This allows us to ensure a holistic model while we focus on perfecting and streamlining the construction process to build our 3D printed schools more quickly and at the lowest cost possible.

We employ local labor and support technology transfer in all we do.
By teaching community members 3D printing processes we hope to catalyze innovation within the next generation who are building a brighter world for us all. Our trusted partners on the ground oversee the day-to-day operations of the schools and ensure that teachers are supplied.

Our hybrid school design combines locally sourced materials with 3D printed walls in order to support the economy where possible.

​How do you 3D print a school?

• An architectural scale printer extrudes the construction material, building the walls from the ground up, layer by layer. The finished school will be a hybrid of 3D printed walls and locally sourced materials for the construction of the roof, doors, and windows.

• Through training programs, we teach local teams how to use the 3D printer so that they can replicate the process to build more schools in the future. Our construction team participates in training programs to facilitate the implementation of our school projects and learn new skills.
  
  

How will 3D printing solve the education crisis?

• We cannot promise an end-all solution to all of the problems surrounding education, but we are promising a start. Lack of access to education is at the root of many of the world’s problems. In order to provide solutions to solve many of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we must prioritize education.

• Insufficient investment in physical infrastructure is one of the largest barriers to education. 3D printing allows us to build schools in less time while encouraging innovation and economic growth.

• Inspired by the beehive, our current Honeycomb Campus of multiple connecting Huts symbolizes the heart of our mission: bringing together a community that thrives if everyone works towards a shared vision.

What is your logo?

The kingfisher is a symbol of peace and prosperity in numerous cultures. Thinking Huts chose this unique bird as its logo because we believe it is well-aligned with our desires and intentions for our projects and resources.

Thinking Huts started after consideration of the underlying sources of worldly troubles. Every analysis of human-produced maladies leads back to a varying set of causes. However, one cause remained consistent. Namely, the lack of access to education.

When education is supported and accepted, it holds the key to progress for the whole human race. Education has led to significant advancements in the fields of technology, engineering, medicine, and the humanities, which we reap the benefits of in our daily lives. There are numerous issues that plague our world today such as starvation, human rights abuses, gender inequality, environmental crises, and the spread of epidemics. Now more than ever, we need well-educated individuals who are able to devise effective solutions to these problems.

By investing in education infrastructure and expanding opportunities for learning, we hope to promote peace and prosperity and have a long-lasting, positive impact on the local community and beyond.