Donation protected
On April 16, 2016 an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 struck the country of Ecuador, resulting in 1,034 casualties, 9 missing, and 27,732 injured. Thousands of rural and urban-rural families became immediately homeless. CAEMBA is an organization seeking to help all types of people by giving them the chance to resume their family life through immediate housing alternatives. I have worked with the head of this organization and made a plan that starts here. Our goal is to raise $21,000 which will help build 4 permanent schools ($4500 each) and 5 homes ($1,800 each).
CAEMBA was born as a spontaneous private initiative to provide short term shelters using bamboo. The original intent was to provide 20 shelters; however, it soon became clear that the shelters were very effective and most importantly, provided a solid structure that families could eventually, very easily, turn into a permanent home. In less than two weeks, CAEMBA had built 20 structures providing safe shelter to over 100 people. Every week, families that were living in improvised shelters or in overly crowded government refugee camps move to a private and spacious CAEMBA progressive home. We have designed and built 6 large day care centers to provide attention to children living in improvised shelters while their parents go to work. Along with that, 26 beautiful school rooms where almost 1000 kids attend classes each day has been built as well. Just 5 months after the earthquake, CAEMBA has built approximately 300 progressive shelters (many of which are permanent homes now), 6 day-care centers, 26 school rooms, and 1 community center. All thanks to private donations.
While our organization has done amazing work to date, there are still countless people needing help. According to OCHA UN office for The Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, there are currently 8,442 people staying in 25 government sponsored refugee camps, 11,146 people living in community spontaneous camps (85% without appropriate roofing), and an unknown number of people living in individual family shelters next to their destroyed or damaged homes.
There is no easier way to help these people or families than contacting us. Any donation that can be given goes a very long way and is always greatly appreciated. Donations will be sent straight to the organizations financial staff, where it will go to saving countless numbers of lives. As someone who has several family members living in Ecuador, this project has become very important to me, as I know we can make these people’s lives much better.
To see more information and photos, please visit our organization's website.
http://www.caemba.com
*Ecuador has an abundance of bamboo material in areas close to those affected by the earthquake. Our bamboo houses do not use wood in their construction, therefor do not create deforestation. This is a key issue, since the demand for wood to build thousands of home will put enormous pressure on the few remaining forests and will contribute to the inflation of prices in the market.
For any further inquires on just how the structures are being built/how, feel free to read below.
CAEMBA basic models use ancient materials such as Giant Bamboo in combination with high-tech elements such as sun reflective plastic. The modular design of our homes can be used for schools, mobile hospitals, kitchens, etc. This structure gives people immediate protection against rain and insects. The mounting method is adapted to the local resources and requires only one digger and a hammer. Pillars are made from giant bamboo and will last between 10 to 15 years buried in the ground with a PVC waterproof protective jacket.
Our progressive concept easily allows homes that are delivered in basic form, that can be later upgraded by their owners to become permanent homes. People can add concrete slabs as floors or wooden walls using new or saved materials from their former homes. All upgrades can come at very low costs, and two story home designs are coming along with similar designs and materials. The same structure is used in a number of ways, such as schools, community centers. With financing from Funación Telefonia Spain, CAEMBA has built 4 day care centers where small children can spend the day while parents work. One of the most affected infrastructures during the earthquake were the private and public schools. Temporary bamboo schools can be built in a few days, and will last over 5 years, which is plenty of time for the construction of long term structures. For longer use and greater weather protection, bamboo exterior walls can be plastered with cement and the addition of a good quality material metal room and bamboo ceilings will provide long-term, cool, classrooms. These centers combine reflective plastic roofs and walls that are protected by a strong wire mesh plus a plastic mosquito net to provide safety, ventilation, and weather protection at the same time.
CAEMBA was born as a spontaneous private initiative to provide short term shelters using bamboo. The original intent was to provide 20 shelters; however, it soon became clear that the shelters were very effective and most importantly, provided a solid structure that families could eventually, very easily, turn into a permanent home. In less than two weeks, CAEMBA had built 20 structures providing safe shelter to over 100 people. Every week, families that were living in improvised shelters or in overly crowded government refugee camps move to a private and spacious CAEMBA progressive home. We have designed and built 6 large day care centers to provide attention to children living in improvised shelters while their parents go to work. Along with that, 26 beautiful school rooms where almost 1000 kids attend classes each day has been built as well. Just 5 months after the earthquake, CAEMBA has built approximately 300 progressive shelters (many of which are permanent homes now), 6 day-care centers, 26 school rooms, and 1 community center. All thanks to private donations.
While our organization has done amazing work to date, there are still countless people needing help. According to OCHA UN office for The Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, there are currently 8,442 people staying in 25 government sponsored refugee camps, 11,146 people living in community spontaneous camps (85% without appropriate roofing), and an unknown number of people living in individual family shelters next to their destroyed or damaged homes.
There is no easier way to help these people or families than contacting us. Any donation that can be given goes a very long way and is always greatly appreciated. Donations will be sent straight to the organizations financial staff, where it will go to saving countless numbers of lives. As someone who has several family members living in Ecuador, this project has become very important to me, as I know we can make these people’s lives much better.
To see more information and photos, please visit our organization's website.
http://www.caemba.com
*Ecuador has an abundance of bamboo material in areas close to those affected by the earthquake. Our bamboo houses do not use wood in their construction, therefor do not create deforestation. This is a key issue, since the demand for wood to build thousands of home will put enormous pressure on the few remaining forests and will contribute to the inflation of prices in the market.
For any further inquires on just how the structures are being built/how, feel free to read below.
CAEMBA basic models use ancient materials such as Giant Bamboo in combination with high-tech elements such as sun reflective plastic. The modular design of our homes can be used for schools, mobile hospitals, kitchens, etc. This structure gives people immediate protection against rain and insects. The mounting method is adapted to the local resources and requires only one digger and a hammer. Pillars are made from giant bamboo and will last between 10 to 15 years buried in the ground with a PVC waterproof protective jacket.
Our progressive concept easily allows homes that are delivered in basic form, that can be later upgraded by their owners to become permanent homes. People can add concrete slabs as floors or wooden walls using new or saved materials from their former homes. All upgrades can come at very low costs, and two story home designs are coming along with similar designs and materials. The same structure is used in a number of ways, such as schools, community centers. With financing from Funación Telefonia Spain, CAEMBA has built 4 day care centers where small children can spend the day while parents work. One of the most affected infrastructures during the earthquake were the private and public schools. Temporary bamboo schools can be built in a few days, and will last over 5 years, which is plenty of time for the construction of long term structures. For longer use and greater weather protection, bamboo exterior walls can be plastered with cement and the addition of a good quality material metal room and bamboo ceilings will provide long-term, cool, classrooms. These centers combine reflective plastic roofs and walls that are protected by a strong wire mesh plus a plastic mosquito net to provide safety, ventilation, and weather protection at the same time.
Organizer
Emilia Ballesteros
Organizer
Delray Beach, FL