Safer Houses 00*
Better Builders 1,089
Trained Engineers 73
Empowered Homeowners 2,440
IMPACT SUMMARY Last Update 13 June 2011. See Notes Below.
PROGRAM SUMMARY
Build Change's post earthquake technical assistance program in Haiti is expanding. Read more below and check out the job opportunities page for open positions in Haiti.
(1) LEARN FIRST: Technical Reconnaissance Study
A technical reconnaissance to understand why buildings collapsed, and why they didn't, was completed in March 2010.
Watch the reconnaisance video of Build Change in Haiti after the earthquake.
(2) DESIGN and BUILD EARTHQUAKE and HURRICANE-RESISTANT HOUSES
DESIGNING EARTHQUAKE and HURRICANE- RESISTANT HOMES- Understanding local materials, tools, skills, cultural preferences and market forces is key to identifying small changes that can make a big difference in construction quality and safety. Confined or reinforced concrete block masonry with cast-in-place reinforced concrete roof, timber truss roof or steel roof are likely to be the most commonly preferred structures by homeowners rebuilding in Haiti.
Building on our award-winning experience designing and building earthquake-resistant, affordable, and culturally appropriate houses in Indonesia and China, Build Change is now working in partnership with the Haitian Ministry of Public Works (MTPTC) to develop detailed design criteria and structural design resources for new and retrofitted earthquake and hurricane-resistant housing units.
Build Change has developed the engineering resources below for use by the Haitian government, relief agencies, donors and homeowners, to be used for any of the five common construction systems used in Haiti: reinforced concrete, confined masonry, reinforced masonry, timber frame, and retrofitting solutions. MTPTC has approved the confined masonry, reinforced masonry, and reinforced concrete frame resources.
Build Change also held four workshops for presentation of the draft structural engineering design resources with the MTPTC and non-governmental organizations.
BUILDING EARTHQUAKE and HURRICANE- RESISTANT HOMES – Build Change provides hands-on technical assistance and training to homeowners during permanent housing reconstruction
Starting in March 2011, Build Change began providing hands-on technical assistance to homeowners rebuilding permanent houses with their own funds. Providing technical assistance and training only, Build Change guides the homeowner through the process of selecting the structural system, drawing a layout, estimating costs, and supervising the construction. As Build Change does not provide funding for the materials and labor itself, the organization is currently seeking partnerships with other implementers and donors to provide incentive-based cash grants to homeowners for permanent housing reconstruction or retrofitting.
(3) BUILD LOCAL CAPACITY
Build Change is training local engineers and builders to design and build earthquake-resistant houses in a three-day introductory course. Build Change is expanding this offering to a more intensive vocational training program with job placement.
More specifically, Build Change’s various short training courses for builders, homeowners, and engineers are in high demand, with over 100 requests for such training courses, as well as vocational training programs that provide on-the-job apprenticeships for builders. Build Change is seeking funding for intensive, four month training programs and partnerships for job placement.
INTERESTED IN BUILDER, ENGINEER or TECHNICAL SUPERVISOR TRAINING PROGRAMS? EMAIL US TODAY!
Build Change is also educating the larger Haitian community, by using Social Marketing to get out messaging about better construction practices.
In a large (16’ x 48’) billboard message, in Creole, located on Delmas’ main road (near entrance to Delmas 29), Build Change encourages Haitians to change the way they are building, using good materials and workmanship.
Build Change also produced and ran 58 60-second radio spots on three major Haitian radio stations on the importance of learning how to build earthquake-resistant homes.
Additionally, Build Change produced, printed and distributed 20,000 flyers and 1,000 posters containing three simple messages on safe building practices to 50+ government agencies, NGOs, service organizations, technical schools and building material suppliers.
(4) STIMULATE LOCAL DEMAND
HOMEOWNERS - Build Change is empowering homeowners with knowledge about how to build an earthquake-resistant house so that they can supervise the construction of their own home, and have confidence that their house will keep their family safe.
Build Change:
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS and ENGINEERS – Build Change, in partnership with Degenkolb Engineers and UNOPS, has recently completed the first-ever training on retrofitting in Haiti for 58 MTPTC engineers on retrofitting solutions for low-rise buildings.
Additionally, as part of the MTPTC Retrofitting Working Group, Build Change is working with UNOPS and MTPTC to continue the process of training engineers and to support the completion of the MTPTC retrofitting guideline that could apply to thousands of buildings in Haiti by carrying out a retrofitting pilot project in Bristou-Boubin.
Build Change is also in the initial phase of retrofitting two houses in Villa Rosa in partnership with Cordaid, and in discussion with CARE for a train-the-trainers retrofitting program. The organization continues to seek additional funding for retrofitting pilot and scaled projects
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS QUALITY – Build Change and Save the Children are providing financing and technical assistance to improve concrete block production and create more income-earning opportunities. The program consists of small loans and grants, certification in partnership with MTPTC, marketing of good quality blocks to the homeowner community, and creating demand within the relief agency community.
To reduce uncertainty and cost of earthquake-resistant new construction and retrofitting through testing, Degenkolb Engineers has designed a wall testing facility that can be used to test various retrofitting techniques, understand better the effect of low block strength on overall performance of a building, and compare options for rebuilding safely and at low cost. MTPTC has committed land on which to build the test facility. Build Change is seeking funding to construct it and run tests.
(5) FACILITATE ACCESS TO CAPITAL
Financing for homeowners for permanent housing reconstruction materials and labor may be provided by homeowners themselves, the Haitian government and the donor community. Build Change is seeking partnerships with donors and microfinance institutions to facilitate access to capital for reconstruction.
Build Change is particularly seeking partnerships with investors and donors willing to provide grant and loan funding directly to homeowners, contingent upon meeting minimum standards for earthquake and hurricane safety. In many post-disaster reconstructions, homeowner-driven reconstruction (in which homeowners hire builders, select the layout, purchase materials) is a low-cost, effective way of facilitating housing reconstruction that also creates local jobs and stimulates local business. It creates less waste, costs less, and produces more satisfied homeowners than typical, donor-driven models.
For more information, please EMAIL US
(6) MEASURE THE CHANGE
See above for current impact numbers. Notes:
