2008 Equality Award Laureate
Build Change
| Laureate Country: United States |
| Project Countries: China, Indonesia |
| Website: http://www.buildchange.org |
| Video: 2008videos/Build_Change.mov |
Build Change designs earthquake-resistant construction technology and trains local builders and homeowners to make homes that can save lives in a disaster.
More than 130 million people live with the constant threat of being killed in an earthquake because their homes are inadequately constructed. Deadly earthquakes occur every year, but earthquake-resistant homes remain unattainable for most poor people in the developing world.
Build Change designs affordable, earthquake-resistant homes and trains local people to construct them simply, with locally available materials and technology. The homes are low-cost while respecting climate, cultural customs, and the choices of homeowners. Build Change's simple, innovative methods, such as soaking bricks in water before building with them, can save lives in a disaster. The better-designed and constructed homes give the poorest people in developing countries an equal opportunity to live safely.
