 "I just want everything to go back to normal. Every day is another earthquake. We just want to go home, go back to work. But we are scared our houses aren't strong enough, so we will just live up here [in tents] for now." Sabarman Saragih, Silabu Village, Mentawai Islands, Indonesia
Greetings!,
It keeps happening here in Indonesia - two more strong earthquakes in September collapsed over 18,000 houses leaving thousands of people without permanent shelter. Aftershocks continue to unnerve the residents and the seismologists say that the big one is still on its way.
We have just spent two weeks travelling around the Mentawai Islands and the coast of Bengkulu and West Sumatra, assessing the damage, and imagining a world in which no one has to die or become homeless because of poor, outdated construction practices.
But what gives me hope is that many families built houses that survived. Minor, low or no-cost changes to existing ways of building, and a little knowledge, goes a long way toward safe, culturally appropriate and sustainable construction.
SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF Build Change's AWARD WINNING POST-EARTHQUAKE HOUSING RECONSTRUCTION WORK to West Sumatra.
Your $10,000 contribution provides hands-on construction supervision, builders training, and earthquake-resistant design advice to a village of 40 families through the entire construction process.
Your $1,000 contribution trains 5 builders in an intensive, on-the-job program.
Every bit helps - your $100 contribution trains 5 technical high school students on how to read a drawing, design and build an earthquake-resistant house. |
| 2,500 Safe Houses in Aceh |
 Build Change has been working in tsunami-devastated Aceh, Indonesia for over 2 years, designing and training builders to build earthquake-resistant houses. So far, we have built 33 houses by hiring and training local builders, and improved the design and construction of over 2,500 houses through partnerships with some of the biggest international relief agencies.
 Our design engineering and construction supervision work for Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has resulted in 682 earthquake-resistant houses.
Oxfam International GB has entrusted us with the design of houses for 211 families who still do not have a permanent home. Soon there will be a village called Lambateung implementing our award-winning designs and earthquake-resistant construction practices.
 The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) has given us the opportunity to train 130 local masons, carpenters, and concrete and steel workers while building 15 houses for CRS. I had the great pleasure of meeting the Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Bill Farmer, when he visited our construction site last March.
CARE International Indonesia and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have enlisted Build Change for housing quality inspections and training engineers and construction supervisors.
 So much has happened since we completed our first 11 house pilot project in May 2006. Mercy Corps has continued to support us to expand our impacts by sharing our design expertise, construction checklists, builders training programs and student training programs (see below) with other organizations. Not only that, Mercy Corps continues to mentor and guide us as we grow. Build Change now employs 16 Indonesian professionals. From our bricklayers to our finance manager, our impact is felt throughout the community. |
| Lasting Change Through Student Training |
|
  
Build Change's winning mix of classroom seminar and hands-on practical training has reached 245 Acehnese technical high school students so far. These future engineers, architects, drafters, and construction supervisors, mentored by our Indonesian staff, improve their test scores by an average 50% by taking our course. Help us to scale this program throughout earthquake-prone Sumatra, Indonesia. |
|
The international community has come together to support the reconstruction of tsunami-devastated Aceh. Thanks so much to those of you who have contributed. But the homeowners affected by these recent earthquakes in Indonesia have been largely ignored. We need your help to leverage our expertise from Aceh and support these new disaster survivors to rebuild their houses and their lives. Donate Now.
Thank you and best wishes for the holiday season,
Elizabeth Hausler
Founder and CEO
Build Change |
|
|
| DONATE NOW |
 |
|
DONATE ON-LINE
Through our site on Universal Giving. Use your credit card or Paypal account. Note that a 3.05% service fee is charged by Paypal.
DONATE BY MAIL
Send your check, payable to Build Change, to:
M. Timothy Louis
169 Throckmorton Avenue
Mill Valley, CA 94941
DONATE MILES
Offset our travel costs by donating your frequent flyer miles. E-mail us at info@buildchange.org for more information. |
| AWARDS and NEWS |
|
2006 Excellence in Structural Engineering Award. Build Change's house design for Aceh won an award from the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California. Thanks to our team of pro bono structural engineers!
Grace Matters Radio Interview. Build Change was featured on the weekly national radio program of teh Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Listen to the story The Foundations of Home.
The article "Santa Clara course helps socially conscious entrepreneurs succeed" in the San Francisco Chronicle on August 27, 2007 highlighted Build Change during the Global Social Benefit Incubator program. Read it here.
Download our Reconnaissance Report on the September 12 and 13 Earthquakes off West Sumatra, published by EERI. |
| About Build Change |
|
Build Change is a 501(c)3 status non-profit social enterprise incoprorated in the State of California on September 2, 2004. Your donation is tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
| |
|
