Indonesia Building Project & Medical Aid for Palestinians

Abdu Mahdi is organizing this fundraiser.

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Assalaam Alaikum and hello!

My name is Abdu Mahdi and in July 2024 I will be travelling to Cidokom, Indonesia to volunteer in a live construction project with CAUKIN Studio. The project is for the Centre for Rural Community Development and Social Entrepreneurship (CERCONDESO), who advocate for rural community development and social entrepreneurship. CAUKIN have previously built a Musalla (Multipurpose Prayer Hall) at this location.

50% of funds raised will contribute to the cost of building materials and tools that will be used in construction. Please continue reading for a full cost breakdown! I aim to post updates, photos and drawings to my Instagram page, where you can see more examples of my work: Instagram

CERCONDESO Instagram

CAUKIN Instagram

The other 50% of funds will be donated to Medical Aid for Palestinians, a UK-based charity working for the health and dignity of Palestinians living under occupation and as refugees. Palestinians have lived under brutal occupation since 1948 and every generation since has suffered unimaginable loss, injury, illness and death at the hands of this occupation. Since 7 October 2023, over 35,000 Palestinians have been murdered, around 50% of whom were children. Over 78,000 have also been injured, with many more suffering from preventable illnesses and starvation due to the Israeli siege and blockade. The healthcare system in Gaza is "no longer functioning" according to MSF (Medecins Sans Frontieres), so the people of Palestine rely on charities like MAP to provide life-saving aid.

Medical Aid for Palestinians Website

CERCONDESO are a charity based in Cikodom, 40km south of Jakarta. They operate charitable, educational, social and religious programmes which focus on women empowerment and education for children. They also provide scholarships to rural Indonesian students, enabling them to access university. CAUKIN Studio have collaborated with CERCONDESO on the Bogor Musolla, a prayer room on the site (pictured). The proposed CERCONDESO Guesthouse will expand the existing facility by providing accommodation spaces with shared cooking / cleaning / dining facilities, allowing more people to take part in workshops there. This new structure will allow CERCONDESO to run multiday sessions and therefore welcome users from much further afield, greatly widening their reach and opportunity to create impact.

The Project Objectives:

Expand the community’s educational offerings by providing accommodation space(s) for users of different ages and backgrounds to stay over multiple days.
Utilise local materials and vernacular design features to create a contemporary space that respects the village’s cultural heritage.
Enhance visitor experience by incorporating indoor and outdoor spaces, with varying levels of enclosure to allow for meeting friends, small break out sessions and evening discussion.
Promote economic growth within the community through widening the potential commercial viability of the space and the customer base.

By integrating sustainable practices such as natural ventilation, efficient space planning and locally sourced materials, the development minimizes its environmental footprint while showcasing the CERCONDESO’s ongoing commitment to the people it serves.

The Cost

The total cost to participate in the project is £1,695 (not including flights). Please see the Cost Breakdown below. For this fundraiser, I aim to raise £1000 toward the project cost, and £1000 for Medical Aid for Palestinians.

No matter the total amount raised through this fundraiser, 50% of the total amount will be donated to MAP.

My name is Abdu, I'm working as a Part 1 Architectural Assistant in Edinburgh and I'll be returning to University for my Master's Degree in Architecture in September 2024. It's my life's mission to use my passion for equitable, sustainable architectural design and practice for the betterment of humanity. My role models are my Architect predecessors - Mimar Sinan, Hassan Fathy and countless nameless craftsmen and artisans who saw their work not just as a means of making money to survive, but as a spiritual practice for the enrichment of their communities.

I'm looking forward to taking part in a hands-on building project for the first time and to learning how a charity design project like this is facilitated. My ultimate goal is to help the people of Gaza to rebuild their communities with the dignity and respect that they deserve, God willing. I hope that this project and my further studies will prepare me for that opportunity when it arises Inshaa Allah.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Every donation is massively appreciated, no matter how small. May God reward you in this life and the next!