Build Change
Model & Strategy
Build Change designs earthquake-resistant houses for communities in seismically active countries and trains local builders, homeowners, engineers and governmental officials to construct them. With a mission of greatly reducing deaths, injuries and economic losses caused by earthquake-related housing collapses, Build Change implements an efficient and culturally sensitive approach with a focus on long-term well-being.
By researching regional resources; sourcing materials locally and affordably; engaging homeowners in the decision-making process; involving and training local engineers, architects, builders, students and governments; and leveraging the knowledge and skills of the world’s top-tier engineers and architects, best practices for reconstruction are married with local education and training, job creation, economic stimulation and acceptance of safer building codes and methods. By 2024 Build Change aims to have 10 million more people in safer houses and schools.
Elizabeth Hausler, founder of Build Change, is a skilled brick, block and stone mason with an M.S. and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and an M.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Colorado. Before graduate school, she spent five years providing engineering consulting services at Peterson Consulting in Chicago and Dames & Moore in Denver. She has lectured on sustainable, disaster-resistant construction in 11 countries and served on the 2002-2003 National Research Council committee to develop a long-term research agenda for earthquake engineering.
Elizabeth is an Echoing Green Fellow, an Ashoka-Lemelson Fellow and was a Fulbright scholar to India in 2002-2003. She received the 2011 Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur of the Year and 2011 Lemelson-MIT Award for Sustainability for her work in sustainable reconstruction in developing countries.
IMPACT
Build Change greatly reduces deaths, injuries, and economic losses caused by housing collapses due to earthquakes and hurricanes in developing countries.
The organization is active in 10 countries and has influenced government policy or regulations on affordable, disaster-resilient housing in at least six countries. Build Change and partners have built 61,200 disaster-resistant buildings, making 334,100 people safer. This has generated jobs for 18,700 engineers and builders and provided training to 43,700 people.
By 2030, Build Change aims to have 10 million people in safer houses and safer schools.
Build Change News
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RT @PreventionWeb: Resilient housing by @BuildChange has created more than: 🏠 90,000 safer buildings 🏠 470,000 safer people 🏠 78,000 train…
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The #COPResilienceHub will be a #virtual hub and presence at #Glasgow’s #COP26, to serve as a focal point on… https://t.co/7XuJbp5PeB
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Juan Caballero, Build Change's VP of Programs, Latin America and Caribbean, was a featured speaker at the Biennial… https://t.co/spg6fxOyoJ
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RT @AutodeskFdn: Have you taken a look at @BuildChange’s Guide to Resilient Housing yet? Learn more about how they're taking their experi…
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We need to prioritize investing in the built environment and in resilient housing - @ElizabetHausler @gpforg
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We have to be thinking about structural reform and the levers that move the deep systems -Alicia John Baptiste, SPUR
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Without equity, there is no resilience -Dana Omran, Resilient Cities Network @gpforg
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The community is the architect of their own vision -Joseph Kunkel, MASS Design Group @gpforg
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For us, housing is a women's issue, and Build Change empowers women at every step of the building process.
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Our discussion at @gpforg on Healthy Communities: Our Built Environments, Planning for the Future kicks off in just… https://t.co/Xm85Ra47Tq
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RT @cdknetwork: 40% of the world is projected to live in vulnerable housing by 2030. @ElizabetHausler and Monica Schroeder of @BuildChange…
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Today, join us for a conversation on urban planning and built environments in the contexts of health at the Global… https://t.co/6VZm6ZE3Hx
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The 2021 Global Philanthropy Forum with @gpforg begins tomorrow! Join us for a working group discussion on implemen… https://t.co/Mnq8jaUnuF
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Alongside #COP26, the #COPResilienceHub program of activities will mobilize ambition on #resilience and #climate… https://t.co/SUFUQQtXX4
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With increasing extreme weather events, building healthy. resilient cities is more important than ever. Join our fo… https://t.co/7nHgSaahq6
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RT @COP26: There is less than one month to go until #COP26 🌍 Read COP26 Explained to learn more about what the @UN #ClimateChange summit i…
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RT @UN: We must all work together to create a safer and more resilient planet. On Wednesday's International Day for Disaster Risk Reductio…
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RT @UNDRR: Early warning services are vital to support adaptation and disaster risk reduction in developing countries. #OnlyTogether #DRRd…
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RT @KarynCaplan: By 2030 about 40% of the world’s population will live in substandard housing. Most people don’t need new homes -they need…
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RT @topnigel: How can we make homes resilient to disasters? Race to Resilience Partner @BuildChange have launched their essential guide to…