Maggie Grout is the founder and CEO of Thinking Huts, an international NGO that increases global access to education with innovative, humanitarian-driven technology solutions. Founded by Maggie 8 years ago, when she was15, Thinking Huts seeks to empower young people, especially girls, to achieve more opportunities by obtaining an education. Grout gave a TEDx talk in 2021 on “how we can tackle the global education crisis with 3D printing.”
Grout was born in a rural village in China and adopted at a young age, but where she came from largely shaped her outlook on life and subliminally led her to start Thinking Huts in 2015. Growing up in London and Colorado, Grout was exposed to the melting pot of cultures in British and American society, but she often wondered why so many people were unaware of how others lived an ocean away. She understood what poverty looks like firsthand and how education empowers people to attain greater opportunities.
THE CREATIVE PROCESS
So tell us a little bit about your journey to founding Thinking Huts and what made you realize the importance of the project?
MAGGIE GROUT
So we use architectural scale 3D printers to construct schools, and it's a hybrid design, so there are 3D printed walls and then locally sourced materials for the rough door windows. And that was an intentional design choice. So we're blending old and new and still being able to train local workers on how they can operate the printer and doing technology transfer that way. In terms of how it works on the ground, we have a combination of teams that come together based around the world, but primarily in Madagascar itself. So we have the local construction workers and engineers, and then the architects, and then of course the technology partner. We're planning and currently in development for the Honeycomb Campus, which will be eight huts on about an acre of land on the west coast of Madagascar. The supply of teachers and the daily operations and management of the school are done by local partners.
THE CREATIVE PROCESS
And on the level of this wonderful initiative that you're bringing to Madagascar, what have you and your team been learning in terms of the intergenerational knowledge and systems of kinship? What can we learn that we might have forgotten in our industrialized societies?
MAGGIE GROUT
I think maybe what we've learned is how important family and community are. What I noticed in Madagascar is how genuinely happy they are despite not having a lot in life. We have so many material possessions here in the US, and not to say that's all bad if people want to pursue that, but I just definitely noticed how it wasn't so much about what you have, but like who you are as a person.
THE CREATIVE PROCESS
Another hidden resource which is important are teachers themselves. And finding the good teachers and keeping them motivated, whatever challenges they face. I imagine teaching models in Madagascar would vary widely from what we have in the West?
MAGGIE GROUT
I definitely observed that in university where you see maybe multiple choice tests rather than critical thinking usage. You're exactly right. In developing countries such as Madagascar, it's a matter of not even having the basic education skills like literacy and mathematics to then be able to advance beyond their village of origin to pursue greater opportunities. So I would say, in the US people are more focused on grades and standardized test scores, and then how much money they could make after graduation.
At least from my experience going to university, I was a business major, so a lot of people wanted to go into banking, venture capital, and those type of consulting jobs where they would be guaranteed a stable income. Whereas, in Madagascar, they're just really wanting to learn English and how they can go to higher education, oftentimes in France or other European countries.
THE CREATIVE PROCESS
I understand the courage that it takes, both being a woman and also being Asian. There's certain biases against who are perceived as leaders. And this is just something that we have to deal with: people's preconceptions. One has to be firm and bold and lead by almost following behind, appearing not to lead. There's so many strategies. So what are some of your strategies and how did you move beyond those challenges?
MAGGIE GROUT
I think being a young Asian woman and trying to lead people can be difficult in the sense that they have those assumptions in place. I do think the typical archetype of Asian women is that you're supposed to be quiet. And maybe those aren't going to be perceived leadership qualities, but in terms of what I have done to overcome that, I've really focused on building the trust and showing people that I genuinely care about them and valuing long-term relationships, especially on the business side.
So with the construction team, just showing them that I'll stand up for them if I see behavior that's not okay in my perception. And just being a good person with ethics, I think is maybe what sets me apart because then people respect that and they'll follow you.
THE CREATIVE PROCESS
And so as you reflect on the future and education, the challenges we face and the kind of world we're leaving for the next generation, what would you like young people to know, preserve and remember?
MAGGIE GROUT
I would want them to know that anything is possible. You just need to persevere and that can have such a huge ripple effect. Not only one person's life, but anybody, whether that's a community or the whole world on a global scale. I wouldn't want people to feel discouraged because I think there are definitely moments along the way of that and people will just not want to try to do that because people around them may say "It's not possible." But if you keep going, then it will eventually come to life.
This interview was conducted by Mia Funk and Claire Tolliver with the participation of collaborating universities and students. Associate Interviews Producer on this episode was Claire Tolliver.
Mia Funk is an artist, interviewer and founder of The Creative Process & One Planet Podcast (Conversations about Climate Change & Environmental Solutions).
