A living lab for green communities
A living & learning lab for building future green communities
Kwena Heights Vétown is a combination of a planned new boarding school which focuses on fostering the talents to fulfill the 17 UN sustainability goals (SDG) and a state-of-the-art green utility system for the school.
By combining the two elements the needed utility facilities for running the school can become a real time learning lab for teaching the skills to build the future green communities of Botswana and abroad – and a real scale living lab for developing the Vétown concept in detail.
It is to be established on plot 32039 in Garanta ward in Molepolole Village, Botswana.
Why the combined project?
Walk the talk – be green now
- The school will have its own utility services, operating 100% green.
- The school will serve as a live learning lab for building and running future green communities.
- Vétown will become the support system for the utilities to be operational.
- The school will be a real-world showcase for engaging development partners and investors/donors behind a worldwide roll-out.
- It will contribute to realisation of Botswana’s national green strategy.
- It will create employment for Batswana.
Support Kwena Heights Vétown
Phase 1 - Véscope
Q2 2024
- Making site surveys
- Get permissions, approvals, and licenses in place.
- Develop detailed project – including budgets for all phases.
- Source financing for phase 2 and 3
- Plan implementation of phase 2
Phase 2 - Véwater
Q2+Q3 2024
- Clear and fence utility part of site (3 hectares)
- Establish water plant on utility site – borehole, water treatment and distribution for the project
- Set up solar array panels to power the plant
- Establish Véwater cooperative
- Establish a facility for net-metering of power with the national grid.
- Establish a preliminary building – for administration and vocational training
- Set up Kgotla for community gatherings and project engagement
Phase 3 – Vépower
Q1-Q2 2025
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- Clear and fence the whole school plot.
- Establish vocational training center
- Build health clinic
- Expand solar array plant
- Set up wind turbine
- Establish supply infrastructure for project site and piloting a couple of surrounding neighborhoods
- Build the first 10 staff houses – as showcase
- Establish Vépower cooperative
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Phase 4 – Boarding School
Q3-Q4 2025
- Build the secondary School – including additional facilities (sport and recreation and school farm/garden)
- Build the rest of the boarding and staff houses
- Establish sewage separation and water recirculation system
- Put up preliminary mobile wastewater treatment plant or transport concentrated sewage to biogas plant.
- Establish Permaculture food gardens on the plot
- Refurbish the public sports field with a continuous drip irrigation system with fertilizer water.
- Expand Vétown micro grid to more households – incl sewage collection.
- Establish Vécycle cooperative
Phase 5 – Vécycle
2026-2028
- Establish biogas plant at utility site
- Establish overall Vétown Cooperative
- Gradually expand the Vétown micro grid to households, retrofit and green field.
- Expand solar array plant + set up additional wind turbines
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