Thanks to donations from South Etobicoke residents work has begun to help rebuild a floating school that will educate poor children in Nigeria.

The famed Makoko Floating School, which was attended by about 100 children, was destroyed following a storm in 2016.

Since then efforts have been underway to help raise funds and re-design a new school, to be located in a Lagos lagoon, which is described as Nigeria’s floating slum.

The school, when completed, will cater to students who were previously denied education due to frequent flooding in the area.

“The school we want to fund will provide education to about 400 children, some of the poorest children in Lagos,” according to a Go Fund Me campaign.

Jonathan Millard, who is from the West Deane Park area, helped with the Go Fund Me drive in which organizers were hoping to raise about $50,000.

Much of the school will be built with recycled or repurposed materials rather than it going to a dump. The school will utilize about 250 plastic barrels to float on the water and plastics will be used to make bricks to support the structure.

The sustainable features includes solar cells on the roof, rainwater catchment system and composting toilets.

The floating school design has won several awards including one for emerging architecture and was shortlisted for the London Design Museum’s 2014 Design of the Year award. It also received a nomination for the 2015 International Award for Public Art.

Millard, who lived in Lagos, learned of the school from Headmaster Noah Shemede.

He returned to Canada and spoke to the Rotary Club of Etobicoke and others to help obtain funding to rebuild the wooden facility.

School officials say construction of the floating school music hub has begun and is slated for completion by December.

“It is expected to promote music, dance, art and other creative industries in African and the diaspora,” according to their website.

Etobicoke-born Millard, who is a graduate from Martingrove Collegiate, attended Carlton University in Ottawa where took part in a study abroad program at the University of Ghana in West Africa and developed a passion for work in Africa.

The three-storey A-frame triangular school provides stability and balance in heavy winds. The structure can also be used for community events, clinics, markets and social gatherings. The classrooms are located on the second tier and are partially enclosed with adjustable louvered slats.