Infrastructure and Participatory Planning

Entire communities have been destroyed and it is of paramount importance that the people themselves be involved in planning their collective future.

Many considerations come into play and require the utmost sensitivity within an on-going process of consultation and re-assessment. An opportunity to create income and spiritual affinities are other areas that need to be planned into the infrastructure.

Reconstruction and Holistic Housing

The challenge of the re-building projects extends further than the houses themselves. Significance must be given to the proposed supply of water, electricity, drainage, jobs, shops, etc and the continuation of old and new community relations.

These are all part of an infrastructure that needs to be thoroughly considered prior to utilising any specific site as part of a holistic approach to housing.

It is important to ensure we do not create a community isolated from mainstream society. Our concerns have gone beyond just finding projects to ensuring any work we do can be sustained in the medium and long term.

The Environment

There are hidden opportunities in such a catastrophe and these should not be lost in the rush to ‘solve’ the problem. Where improvements in biological/ecological systems can be encouraged to enhance the hygiene, ecology and well being of the community they will be pursued.

We will endeavour, where appropriate, to incorporate suitable new and affordable technologies.

Income and employment

Livelihoods and opportunities to create income need to be planned into the infrastructure of the development so that the newly constituted groupings can develop dynamically and organically. Improvements and innovations to the old system can be introduced alongside the encouragement of skills training. This area especially involves the youth and helps provide them with a future purpose.