Welcome to ARCHITECTS WITHOUT BORDERS.
WELCOME and thank you for visiting Architects Without Borders web site. Architects without borders is a non-governmental, not-for-profit, volunteer humanitarian relief organization. We are part of an international coalition of Architects Without Borders across the globe. This website is dedicated to communication between members and volunteers and to provide visitors with information about our organization.
To read current events and messages, view varios topics relevant to our work and find out more, navigate the TABS located at the top of the page.
LINKS TO OUR CHAPTERS:
ARCHITECTS WITHOUT BORDERS SEATTLE WASHINGTON CHAPTER WEB SITE
ARCHITECTS WITHOUT BORDERS PORTLAND OREGON CHAPTER WEB SITE
CONTACT US:
To contact us please send and e-mail to:
Contact us at: architectswithoutborders@gmail.com
architectswithoutborders@gmail.com
If we do not get back to you right away, please be patient. Due to high volumes of e-mail we are not able to respond to everyone's correspondence right away. Your messages are very important to us and we will make every attempt to reply as soon as we can.
In order to allow continued open access to the information and networking functions that advance our humanitarian relief work we sincerely request that visitors and users of this web site are respectful and contribute only relevant information. Use of the facilities provided in this web site and use of the email functions are strictly for authorised uses only. Thank you for your consideration.
[B]NEWS:
Architects Without Borders is working with other NGO's (non-governmental organizations) and relief agencies to coordinate reconstruction efforts in the regions affected by the latest Tsunami in Asia. We encourage your participation by contributing donations and skills. Our efforts are directed at both short and long term recovery from this natural disaster. Please contact us to help forward our much needed efforts.
We are working to partner with several relief organizations such as Sarvodaya in Sri Lanka.
We will be posting a list of partner organizations soon.
Please visit our TOPICS section ASIA DISASTER RESPONSE for additional information and maps of the devastated areas.
United Nations Updates -  Tsunami relief[/EMAIL]
AWB entring into partnership with [URL=http://www.sarvodaya.org/]Sarvodya for reconstruction in Sri Lanka
Read also: New York Times: December 30, 2004
NYT ARTICLE
Press Democrat:
BLUEPRINT FOR SURVIVAL
Guardian Unlimited:
WHAT WE CAN DO
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Architects have designs on compassion
NPR:
NPR1
The Telegraph - Calcutta:
GLOBAL DRIVE TO REBUILD HOMES
The Creghtonian
Creighton University
STUDENT SPEARHEADS TSUNAMI RELIEF
World Volunteer Web:
VOLUNTEER WEB
Arts Journal
PIXEL POINTS
New Zeland Institute of Architects
ARCHITECTS RALLY TO AID TSUNAMI VICTIMS
CONTRIBUTING TO OUR EFFORTS:
We invite and encourage your financial contribution to further our efforts. Please make your donations to Architects Without Borders. These can be sent to:
Architects Without Borders
295 Neva Street
Sebastopol, CA
95472
Why are cash contributions so important? Click Frequently Asked Questions
[QUOTE]Together we can make a world of difference
For additional information on volunteer opprtunities and donations click GUIDELINES
MISSION:
As a result of economic crisis, natural disaster and human conflict, many people are facing emergencies and crisis without adequate resources for long-range recovery. AWB is committed to helping communities develop self-directed sustainable recovery and reconstruction programs.
Architects Without Borders is dedicated to facilitating the means for collaborative technical assistance and support.
We support communities in developing visionary planning, leadership and self determination models upon which communities can define and achieve their own aspirations. "If you really listen to the victims of disasters, you can really make a difference."
Architects Without Borders believes that through sensitive, compassionate engagement and participatory consensus building programs, communities can build self-reliance and long range viability that is responsive to socio-economic, community and cultural identity.
We strive to create the means through which people can collaborate in building healthful, safe and livable built environments.
We promote multi-lateral, intercultural, participatory programs that foster good will and peace building through sustainable development programs.
Development and recovery programs are intended to promote improved quality of life and dignified living conditions for communities, today and for generations to come.
Architects Without Borders invites and encourages interdisciplinary and multi-cultural collaboration through working alongside local communities, public institutions, civil society organizations, trans-national organizations and other humanitarian relief organizations.
We promote interdisciplinary education, dialogue and awareness relating to sustainable development of the built environment and humanitarian relief that reflects social responsibility, environmental stewardship, and holistic wisdom.
Mindfulness and sensitivity to social equity and inclusion are inherently necessary for successful outcomes. Members and volunteers accept the responsibility of ethical professional practice that is inclusionary. We do not discriminate on the basis of national origin, creed, and cultural, ethnic or religious affiliation.
OUR APPROACH:
Our approach is holistic and interdisciplinary, relying on the wealth of knowledge and wisdom inherent in progressive multi-cultural, appropriate technological, socially and economically equitable strategies. We promote programs that sensitively integrate local knowledge with our shared collective wisdom. Solution strategies draw upon our collective knowledge disseminated through education and training. Our programs are designed to empower communities to achieve their own vision of development and recovery. We hope to reinforce shared goals of sustainable and appropriate economic endeavors, environmental protection and social equity.
Architects Without Borders not only brings requested assistance and critical resources such as technical assistance and strategic planning but also focuses on enhancing the capacity for self-reliance and self-determination within communities in need. By reducing disparities in education, opportunity and environmental risk within society, we help communities build for themselves foundations of hope, trust and collective vision that is essential to achieving the objectives aspired to.
By networking with professionals, practitioners, educators, public agencies and other relief organizations we enhance the effectiveness of relief and development programs. Through such an interdisciplinary approach AWB engages with recipient communities at the local level.
We attempt to simultaneously promote economic development alongside development and reconstruction of the built environment that has positive long-term socially equitable and environmental benefit. AWB participates by facilitating and promoting the means for such sustainable development and recovery through training and technical assistance.
Natural disasters, human conflict, and inequitable economic disparity lead to conditions such as malnutrition, lack of suitable housing, lack of safe drinking water, unstable communities, further perpetuation of conflict, and deepening crisis, to mention but a few. We recognize that development and reconstruction that strives to integrate, to the greatest extent reasonable, the principles of sustainability, peace building, inter-cultural collaboration, and inclusionary/participatory consensus represents an opportunity for communities in crisis all across the planet to live fulfilling lives, to achieve their aspirations in the face of present realities. We also recognize that in order for such development to be successful for the future strength of our communities, we strive to preserve, and where possible, enhance opportunities, environmental quality, and availability of renewable resources for those future generations.
Sustainable development programs are consistent with the principle that the present needs can be met without unreasonably compromising long-range viability nor the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainable development and reconstruction programs are based on a holistic concept that integrates the best practices and strategies to integrate economic strength, social equity and environmental management. Our programs integrate this interdisciplinary knowledge and understanding of social equity, empowerment, social mobility and cultural preservation. We promote technologies, materials and methods that are responsive to protecting natural resources, biodiversity, carrying capacity, ecosystem integrity and a healthy environment. We understand that for development and reconstruction to have long-range viability, the demands placed upon the environment by people and commerce must respect the carrying capacity of the environment to provide for future generations.
Through collaboration with communities and their leadership, AWB and partner relief organizations implement programs that identify locally available resources, innovative technologies, and indigenous wisdom and practices. Together we provide assistance that is most effective to meeting the long-term objectives of those most in need.
We understand that in order to empower communities in crisis to effectively engage with the challenges they are confronting, we must recognize the effects of loss and the dis-empowerment and hopelessness that result from conditions that face so many people today.
Our approach is respectful of human dignity, reflects intrinsic local wisdom, and strives to facilitate grass roots self-determination and participation. AWB can provide, when requested, sensitive and respectful insight and facilitation in the planning and implementation of sustainable development, recovery and reconstruction programs.
Our primary objective is to provide assistance in such areas as collaborative and reciprocal education in appropriate technologies, sustainable development practices, strategic economic planning and visionary design that builds local self-reliance and self-sufficiency. We believe and have seen that to be most effective we must be mindful of many aspects inherent in reconstruction and recovery programs. Using consensus-based models, local communities and their leadership develop their own sustainable development programs.
Through compassionate and sensitive engagement, we share our knowledge of sustainable practices, innovative design and visionary planning that integrates holistically social science, indigenous wisdom and appropriate technologies.
SUSTAINABILITY:
AWB members are committed to the principles of sustainability and environmental stewardship. Using appropriate technologies coupled with indigenous wisdom we promote development and reconstruction that is sensitive to the environment, protects critical resources, and results in dignified human habitation that can be sustained. We hope, through our efforts and those of others committed to humanitarian relief we empower all participants and recipient communities to effectively respond to situations where long range recovery efforts result in lasting solutions.
Our programs, practices and objectives are evaluated to be aligned with local and regional environmental constraints. Development programs are intended to be sustainable from ecological, economical and social perspectives. We strive to empower communities in need to realize their objectives using principles of sustainability. We also strive to be sensitive to local wisdom based technologies and practices that reflect the cultural values and historic identity of the people themselves.
In support of such recovery AWB strives to understand the complex interactions of such diverse and interrelated issues as culture, ecosystems, economics, social psychology, and history. Our members and volunteers work collaboratively with other non-governmental humanitarian relief and civil service organizations, government agencies, and local communities to effectively implement long-term recovery programs.
COLLABORATION AND COMMUNITY BUILDING:
We encourage and empower local recipient populations to participate to the greatest extent possible in creating viable self-perpetuating and sustainable community based programs. Working with community leadership at the grass roots level, project teams can draw from the resources provided by our volunteer professional practitioners, educators and students in the fields of architecture, planning, engineering, building and infrastructure, sociology, economics, cultural anthropology and history, human psychology, and the like. Educational and training programs for communities in crisis and recovery that draw upon local knowledge and wisdom is essential to strong self determination, and community.
We help to identify unemployed and underemployed local workers and professionals. We believe that in order to have a sustainable program, sustainable economic principles of education and employment should be integrated into the approach. We hope through the work we do collaboratively with communities around the world, through our collective knowledge sharing we can build livable and viable communities for healthful and peaceful lives. Providing access by communities to the interdisciplinary understanding and wisdom necessary for sustainable development embraces the concept of the interdependence of economic prosperity, environmental quality and equity. Through education and shared knowledge, communities in crisis are better equipped to take actions that support all three.
WHO WE ARE:
We are professionals, students, practitioners, educators and laypeople from many backgrounds and cultures. Our volunteers, members and affiliate organizations respond to the needs of communities in crisis with sensitivity, compassion and effective capacity to address, in innovative and insightful ways, complex conditions with limited resources. We are dedicated to promoting safe and life fulfilling built environments that are sustainable, socially and environmentally responsible. Architects Without Borders is affiliated with an international network and coalition consisting of many chapters and sister organizations around the world. If you or your organization is interested in sustainable development, humanitarian relief, reconstruction and recovery programs please contact us or the many relief organizations dedicated alleviating human suffering and crisis. We invite your support for and participation in this critical ongoing work.
SPHERE STANDARDS
Architects Without Borders implements and seeks guidance from the SPHERE STANDARDS and the INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS - RED CRESCENT - NGO CODES OF CONDUCT in its activities and practices. Click SPHERE HANDBOOK.
TSUNAMI RELIEF - ASIA
Architects Without Borders is preparing teams and putting in place logistics and facilities to have a significant engagement in the regions affected by the tsunami disaster. We are engaging in providing emergency relief shelter, temporary - interim facilities and long term community recovery and reconstruction programs. We will be providing technical assistance and facilitation for work crews in reconstruction and sustainable development projects involving housing, schools, clinics, infrastructure, and community resources. We will be working closely with affected communities to empower their recovery and reconstruction efforts. We are partnering with other humanitarian relief organizations and in coordination with the United Nations, official authorities and the United Nations / International Red Cross, among many others to facilitate and coordinate our collaborative efforts.
A message to all that would like to volunteer:
We are working to form teams that can provide technical assitance in many areas and on many projects. We hope you will be patient as it will take time to prepare and put in place the logistics, planning, infrastructure, support and program management capacity to begin specific projects and provide the appropriate framework for volunteers to participate. There are many details specific to the Asia tsunami region that must be addressed before projects can actuall commence.
We are working to establish a coordinated engagement.
This requires funding, strategic planning, and a significant amount of logistics.
Much of this effort is underway:
Logistics and resources
Team leader training
Network partners
Materials and equipment
Transportation
Advanced damage assessment
Communications
Security
Support
Surveying
Planning
Project allocation
Engineering
Etc.
We therefore encourage interested persons and groups to stand by as we coordinate our engagement to send qualified, trained teams on an ongoing basis.
NOTE
We appreciate that you understand that the content of this entire internet web site is protected by copyright. This also includes all articles, postings, attachments and downloadable documents. This web site, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced or copied in any form without permission of AWB-USA. You may make written requests for such permissions addressed to:
Architects Without Borders
295 Neva Street
Sebastopol, CA 95472
DISCLAIMER
Architects Without Borders - USA is not in any way affiliated with Doctors Without Borders. Doctors Without Borders is a registered trademark of Bureau International de Médecins Sans Frontieres.
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