30/04/2025
This IE student is already being recognized with major awards.
Let us introduce you to Tristán Sartorius—Master in Architecture student, alumnus of the Bachelor in Architectural Studies, and co-founder of 4Fate NGO. His nonprofit organization recently won first place at the XII University Volunteer Awards by Mutua Madrileña Foundation, making it the perfect moment to tell his story.
From social impact architecture in Kenya to studies in Madrid, find out how Tristán is already making a difference on the international stage.
Social outreach in Kenya
Tristán first ventured out to Kenya in 2023 with a group of friends to volunteer in Ukunda, a town of 60,000 inhabitants. The idea of the trip was to educate local children about issues like road safety. Before long, Tristán got the sense there was more that could be done.
“The help we were giving was minimal, just two or three hours a day, and then we had free time to do whatever we wanted,” says Tristán. “We started thinking about how else we could help. One thing we saw is that all the kids really liked sports, especially playing football—just like every other kid in pretty much the entire world. During every break, they would go to the yard of the school to play soccer, but the soccer field was in bad shape. There were a lot of roots, a lot of rocks, and the goals were made from old car tires.”
The initial plan was simple: Crowdfund enough to reform the pitch into a safe and playable area.
Tristán and his friends thought €800 would be enough and set up a GoFundMe page to be shared among friends. But the story resonated beyond what they’d expected. Within three weeks, they’d raised €60,000.
Establishing the residential center project
“We started thinking more deeply about how to use those resources effectively,” Tristán explains. “We wanted to target those who were really struggling.”
As Tristán and his friends met more residents of the town, they gained an introduction with Mama Gladys.
“She’s our main contact in Kenya,” says Tristán. “She’s been working with families in need for more than 30 years and is very well-known in the town. She introduced us to disabled children and showed us how difficult their living situation was. They need to be taken care of almost 24 hours a day, making it even harder for often single mothers to find jobs and earn money.”
Using the crowdfunded money, Tristán and his friends bought a plot of land with a drive to make real, tangible difference. “We designed a residential center for a total of 15 families, which is already underway. This center will have a physiotherapy room and a workshop, allowing mothers to produce artisanal products that can be sold in the market for income. The long-term goal is for them to be self-sufficient within five to six years.”
4Fate NGO: Creating a nonprofit organization
Three years after that first trip to Kenya, Tristán and co-founder Beltrán Tornos now run 4Fate NGO, a nonprofit organization. “We wanted to officially establish the project and become a nonprofit association here in Spain, which would give us significant legal support and help attract more donors. This would also allow us to apply for grants and grow the project,” says Tristán, though he notes the process wasn’t straightforward. “Two of our team members left because it’s a hard job with no pay and a lot of time invested.”
The pair oversee the project from Spain, with regular visits back to Kenya. “Daily or weekly, we receive updates about the progress with pictures and receipts,” says Tristán. “I’m responsible for managing the construction, sending the funds, and ensuring that everything is going smoothly.”
“We have a team that supports us, but I handle the decision-making and planning. We also need to prepare documentation, videos, and other materials related to our work.”
And while his hard skills as an architecture student have been core to the center’s development, the administrative requirements have proved transformative. “I’ve gained skills along the way,” Tristán says. “For instance, making videos and creating web pages—despite never having done it before—I learned how to tackle these challenges by using knowledge gained from architecture programs. I created the entire webpage for our project by myself, from scratch. I was able to find the resources at IE School of Architecture & Design to make that possible.”
The creative process for social impact architecture
“I’ve learned some surprising things about the role of architects,” Tristán reflects when asked about the construction of the center. “Initially, I thought architects had limited influence. But we actually have significant power when it comes to decision-making, especially regarding budgets. That was a new experience for me. Having a set budget in real life forced me to rethink our designs and prioritize certain elements over others.”
When pressed on how he approached the center’s design, Tristán had several insights to offer. “We aimed to keep our plans as straightforward and effective as possible,” says Tristán.
“One priority was ensuring good ventilation and lighting in the rooms because people live in conditions that aren’t conducive to health. And we had to do all this with a focus on working with locals.”
“I designed the building so that all the rooms would face a large central courtyard, where we would plant trees and create communal spaces with benches,” Tristán continues. “This design fosters a sense of community among the families. I also wanted to preserve the existing trees on the plot, which were lovely, mature trees. The plot was essentially jungle, and we could only see the tops of the large trees. Throughout our discussions, we emphasized the need to respect the natural environment.”
“I’m now 1000 percent sure that architecture can create social spaces. The design of a space matters significantly for the interactions of people who live and work there, and it profoundly affects how users engage with the environment.”
Winning the XII University Volunteer Awards and looking ahead
Thanks to Tristán and Beltrán’s efforts, the project won First Prize in the XII University Volunteer Awards by Mutua Madrileña Foundation. “When I found out we had won, it was incredible,” Tristán says. “To know our hard work had been recognized in such a significant way was affirming.” The award symbolized not just the project’s success, but the potential of social impact architecture moving forward.
“I definitely see myself continuing to work on socially impactful projects in the future,” Tristán says. “I believe what I’ve learned from this experience can extend into various concepts of socially useful architecture.”
“The experience of translating a residential center in a jungle to an underprivileged community in an urban environment is entirely feasible. These projects empower you to contribute to something larger than yourself.”
Whatever the future holds for Tristán’s career, he hopes that 4Fate NGO will provide something that endures beyond their own actions. “The goal is not for them to rely on external help forever; the idea is to plant the seed so that something meaningful can grow from it. We’ll support them for the first five years, but after that, they’ll hopefully be able to stand on their own.”
Study the Master in Architecture
Inspired by Tristán’s journey? Find out more about how the Master in Architecture at IE School of Architecture & Design can transform your outlook.
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Benjamin is the editor of Uncover IE. His writing is featured in the LAMDA Verse and Prose Anthology Vol. 19, The Primer and Moonflake Press. Benjamin provided translation for “FalseStuff: La Muerte de las Musas”, winner of Best Theatre Show at the Max Awards 2024.
Benjamin was shortlisted for the Bristol Old Vic Open Sessions 2016 and the Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize 2023.
