Al Sahabba Community Center

The Balegho NGO highlighted a lack of schools in the area and especially Islamic schools within the community of Niamey, Niger. After research was done to identify the users of the facility, interviews were done by the NGO in Niamey to acknowledge residents’ needs. Based on the results, the Balegho, Unitary, and Hand Over developed a program that responded to residents’ needs. The project’s main objective is to create a center for religious and primary education. Spirituality and Islamic teachings are at the core drivers of the design. The center includes educational facilities where students can learn about their faith, the main language of Islam, Arabic and practice Islamic teachings. A cornerstone of the project is the workshops at the Sahabba Community where at people can learn crafts and trading as a source of income development. Another main aspect of the center is the clinic providing healthcare services to the community. As the project is located in the outskirts of Niamey, most students will need a place to host them during their studies, hence the project includes dormitories for boys, girls, and faculty. Finally, the Sahabba Mosque is the spiritual heart of the project where the inside and outside Muslim community can perform prayer in a serene space.