Baden-Württemberg property developer DBA Deutsche Bauwert AG is committing to a social building project in East Africa as part of its corporate social responsibility. At a charity event at the company headquarters in Baden-Baden, the firm raised 167,000 EUR in donations together with around 150 participating business partners and employees. The funds will go entirely to the FLY & HELP foundation, chaired by Reiner Meutsch, which is using them to finance the construction of an educational complex in Ethiopia.
The location of the project is the small town of Warder in the east of the country, not far from the Somali border. The region is among the areas with the weakest infrastructure in the nation of around 120 million inhabitants, where the first paved connecting road was only completed in 2026. The site for the complex was provided by the municipal administration of Warder. On site, the German non-governmental organisation Somacare e. V. is providing operational monitoring of the construction works, while subsequent regular operations will be transferred to the Somali Regional State Education Bureau as the regional education authority.
Design and architectural execution of the complex
The planned complex comprises twelve separate buildings that cater to the specific requirements of educational and care operations. In addition to four classrooms, the spatial programme includes four dormitories. There are also spaces for teaching staff and administration, as well as a canteen with kitchen and a library. A dedicated deep well secures the autonomous water supply for the property, which also features contemporary sanitary facilities with flush toilets.
- —Construction of twelve building units including classrooms and dormitories
- —Climate-adapted construction using local natural stone and ventilation blocks in the roof
- —Dedicated self-sufficient water supply via well-based infrastructure
- —Turnkey completion following an estimated construction period of eight months
Construction is scheduled to begin in October 2026 and is planned to take around eight months. Architecturally, the design relies on durable local natural stone as well as large-format timber windows for optimal daylight utilisation. Special ventilation elements in the roof area ensure constant air circulation under the extreme climatic conditions of the region.
Focus on medically rehabilitated schoolchildren
In terms of programme, the Warder Cleft School is primarily dedicated to children with cleft lip and palate, who are often ostracised in Africa's rural and pastoral areas. As the local hospital has specialists for surgical care, the school offers the affected young people free primary education, speech therapy, and psychological support following medical interventions. The aim is to enable them, once stabilised, to make the regular transition to mainstream schools in their home communities.
Uwe Birk, management board member of DBA Deutsche Bauwert AG, pointed out that the longstanding cooperation with FLY & HELP ensures swift and structured project delivery. Reiner Meutsch affirmed that firm integration into the country's administrative structures is indispensable to safeguarding the property permanently and sustainably for educational purposes following completion of construction.
