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Newsflash
August 2010.
There are some very interesting developments going on... Next September 2010 a new program will start at the Faculty of Architecture within Limerick University in Ireland. It is called 'Alternative Construction and Disaster Response' and this program is mainly built around the work of Smart Shelter Foundation! So we might start some new projects in Nepal with assistance of the Irish students. More about this will follow soon!
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Goal of the organization
Today more than a billion people in this world are living in total poverty. Most of them live in developing countries, in unhygienic conditions and without a decent roof over their head. Smart Shelter Foundation is concerned about the well-being of these people. we aim to contribute to the improvement of the living standards of the poorest in the fields of habitat, sanitation and their direct environment.
Our main goal is to create safe and protective living environments, which respond to the direct needs of the poorest. It is about making changes in which they are directly involved, in which they can participate actively and which gives them a feeling of pride and a higher self-esteem. By fully utilizing all local possibilities and by making smart combinations, affordable and durable solutions can be developed. These solutions must be easy to adapt, in order to cause a positive snowball-effect and durable change. Important starting points are respect for the cultural backgrounds, protection of the environment and self-sustainability.
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Our Strong Points
Our first motto is: Let’s get started and take action. We want to build, build more and keep on building. The housing problems are increasing worldwide, more and more people simply need decent shelter and proper sanitation. We need to be practical and accurate, which is characterized by:
Full participation and cooperation with the beneficiaries. They will be involved throughout the whole project, from design to realization.
Local presence in the villages and at the building sites where we work. A Smart Shelter Foundation volunteer is always available in the field, for direct assistance during the project.
Strong technical background and realistic budgeting. We make all designs and estimates according to the actual local information. This makes our projects affordable to the people, whose participation is around 25%.
Through local research, we include alternative ways of construction and re-use of materials in all our designs, with regard to the local living conditions and the environment.
Training of local masons and carpenters. We give them extensive construction training, to ensure the quality of the workmanship and to create durable buildings.
We do al our work voluntarily and we are very proud of our minimal overhead expenses. Last year we only had to pay some transaction costs to the bank. We document our projects thoroughly and we are totally transparent to our donors.
Our Team
Smart Shelter Foundation is a young non-profit organization, founded by a Dutch architect. Read more about his backgrounds here.
The enthousiastic core team consists of the following persons:
| Chairman | Martijn Schildkamp | Architect |
| Secretary | Dennis Hofman | Architect |
| Treasurer | Noël Voskuilen | Financieel Manager |
| Reference group | Erwin de Maar | Architect |
| Matthij Moons | Structural Engineer | |
| Meint Smith | Structural Engineer | |
| Frank Schildkamp | Education Specialist | |
| Demen Hartman | Industrial Product Designer | |
| Robbert Bouman | Fundraising | |
| Wijnand van Huut | Fundraising | |
| Judith Stoop | Public Relations | |
| Edward Dalmulder | Public Relations | |
| Tessa van Weelie | Public Relations | |
| Wim Koning | Coaching | |
| Webmaster | René Bak | Webmaster |
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| up: Matthij, Wijnand, Judith, Frank, Meint, Erwin, Robbert, René | ||
| down: Wim, Noël, Martijn, Tessa, Dennis |
This page page was compiled on Wednesday, 08 September 2010 at 13:42:31
