Thoughts on World Humanitarian Day

Raymond Lopinski is a Trustee at AzuKo, and engineer by training. He brings deep expertise in human-centric design, systems thinking and sustainable development, and is passionate about using technical skills to empower communities and drive social impact.

• Tell us a bit about yourself and your professional background …

  I am an engineer by training and have spent my career in Corporate Services planning, developing and operating office expansions and campus’ for Fortune 500 companies globally. Through this, I have gained a deep appreciation on how human-centric designed environments can empower people and communities to be more participatory, resilient and prosperous, and transform lives.

Trustee, Raymond Lopinski

• You’ve worked across more than 20 countries. What first drew you to humanitarian and community-focused work?

  Working in such diverse cultures and industries, I realised that success hinges on prioritising people — their needs, productivity and collective well-being. This perspective aligns closely with humanitarian principles: designing for people and communities has a transformative impact for all, and can boost entire economies.

• World Humanitarian Day celebrates the people who help others in times of crisis. What does the word ‘humanitarian’ mean to you personally?

  I believe all technical, all professional work shapes lives, so should inherently be humanitarian. Whether designing infrastructure, buildings or financial systems, success and value are defined by how it improves lives. To me, ‘humanitarian’ means that your decisions are driven by the impact on people and communities leading to increased value and positive systemic change.

• How did you first connect with AzuKo, and what inspired you to join the board as a Trustee?

  I discovered AzuKo through their collaboration with Engineers Without Borders UK. What stood out was their undertaking to not just solve the immediate problem. Co-designing with the community, understanding their problems and teaching them how to process their individual needs equips them with lasting skills and sustainable purpose-fit solutions. This commitment resonated deeply with my belief in sustainable, regenerative, effective solutions.

• From your perspective, what makes AzuKo’s approach to community-led design distinctive and impactful?

  In my work, I’ve seen how community-oriented design leads to more successful, sustainable and economical outcomes. AzuKo exemplifies this by proving that the ‘right’ solution — one co-created with communities — is often more meaningful, impactful and cost effective than conventional approaches.

“Involving the community reduces failure rates, accelerates adoption, reduces costs and makes for a higher valued, successful environment — a competitive advantage.”

• Is there a particular AzuKo project or story that has stayed with you or changed how you view development work?

  The amazing work being done in Bangladesh. By training women in data gathering, technical and financial skills, AzuKo sparks a ripple effect — empowering them to uplift entire communities. It’s a powerful model for regenerative development. AzuKo delivers holistic solutions for change.

Women changemakers in Bangladesh

Community space planning workshop

• From your experience, what role do technical professionals, like engineers, designers or architects, play in creating more just and resilient communities?

  All professionals have a responsibility to apply their skills through a humanitarian/people lens. Professionals are not neutral. Every decision either includes or excludes someone. The same budget can build sterile structures or resilient, sustainable communities. The difference is in how you guide the process, bring diverse disciplines and views together to co-create. Community partnership isn’t just ethical, it is more efficient, effective and adds value.

• Working in the corporate sector as well as nonprofits, how do you think these two worlds can better collaborate to tackle global challenges?

  The corporate sector is increasingly recognising that long-term success depends on serving all stakeholders; employees, customers, and communities, alongside shareholders. Nonprofits can help bridge gaps by sharing on-the-ground insights and a more holistic view, while companies bring scale, innovation and funding. Together, they can create solutions that are both impactful and sustainable. Tackling the global challenges creates value, differentiation, expands to new market… everything a company needs to succeed. It creates a high ROI (return on investment) and has a systemic impact. These two worlds are interlinked, not separate.

• What advice would you give to professionals who want to use their skills for social good but don’t know where to start?

  You start by NOT being quiet — speak out. Most technical focused professionals are analytical and introverts so speaking out, talking to people, understanding their context is sometimes a challenge. Get outside of your technical/specialist bubble to understand the interconnectivity of what you do and the impact on other elements of society. Advocate for sustainable solutions in your current role — whether in meetings, projects, or client work. ‘Unintended consequences’ are minimised when we break down silos and co-design. Volunteering is another great way to learn from communities directly. The more we listen, the better we can align technical expertise with real needs.

“The more you listen to people, understand people — the better professional you will be.”

• What gives you hope? What are you optimistic about when you look at the future of humanitarian and development work?

  While challenges like shrinking social programmes are real, I’m encouraged by the growing understanding that social responsibility isn’t optional — it’s foundational to increased returns and long-term success. If more businesses embed these principles into their core operations (every product and service they deliver), this will create sustainable value for them and we’ll see communities thrive in ways that benefits everyone. Human-centric design is a huge competitive advantage.

Learn more about AzuKo’s human-centric work →

Amena's kitchen of hope

Sitting down with Amena in her home, the first thing we notice is how alive the place feels.

Strings of onions hang in neat clusters from the roof. Garlic dries on the floor. In one corner, a mound of potatoes waits for market; in another, a sewing machine stands ready for work. The walls are patched with colourful landscapes cut from old calendars, bringing the world indoors. Every inch of space is used with care and purpose.

Tailoring, a vital source of income

Amena lives in a village in rural northwest Bangladesh with her two sons. She’s a skilled tailor, making clothes for her family and selling salwar kameez to her neighbours. Her community is a close-knit mix of Hindu and Muslim families who celebrate together and look out for each other. Most earn their living as agricultural day labourers — a life of hard work for little pay.

All around the village, tall chimneys from brick factories rise above the fields. These traditional, outdated kilns burn coal and wood, releasing thick black smoke into the air. The pollution damages crops, contaminates soil, and worsens the already fragile climate. Farmers like Amena struggle to grow staples such as rice because the falling ash and poor air quality damage the plants before they can mature.

Amena’s life has been shaped by loss and resilience. In 2017, while she was in the capital Dhaka receiving treatment for cancer, floods swept through her village, destroying her home. They rebuilt what they could, but their house remained fragile. Then, in 2021, tragedy struck again — Amena’s husband died, taking with him not only her life partner but the family’s main source of income. She sold everything she could — belongings, animals, land — just to survive.

“I had no financial support at the time. I learned if I have to do something, I can stand by myself. I just need the opportunity.”

Amena’s previous cooking space

Amena and her new improved kitchen

That opportunity came when Amena joined AzuKo’s construction training. Using her new skills, she has built a stronger, safer kitchen — one that has transformed her daily life. She invested 6,000 BDT (£53) of her own money into the project, determined to contribute to her family’s future.

Her new kitchen is a far cry from the crumbling, smoky space she once cooked in. It now has solid foundations, crossbracing, and strong joints. There’s an electric stove, lights to cook under at night, a water station, and room to gather.

It’s the heart of the home — a place to talk, do homework, share meals and welcome guests.

Gone are the days of collecting firewood, breathing in smoke, and preparing meals on an unhygienic earth floor. Cooking is easier, faster, and safer. Amena now has more time to spend with her children and on her land, where she raises cows and chickens, and harvests rice and corn.

A dedicated space for washing and food preparation

Homework underway in the kitchen

Bamboo crossbracing

She has also joined a women’s savings group, supported by AzuKo. Every month, she puts aside a small amount, knowing she can access a low-interest loan if disaster strikes again. This safety net has given her peace of mind for the first time in years.

Amena’s dream is simple yet powerful,

“I can’t dream for myself — only for my children. I want them to get a good education and have a better life.”

She hopes one day to buy her own land and build a new, forever home, using everything she’s learned.

With your support, more women like Amena can turn hardship into hope. Give what you can, today →

World Water Day — interview with our Chair of Trustees, Deljana Iossifova

Dr Deljana Iossifova is Chair of the Board of Trustees at AzuKo. She is also Professor of Architecture and Urban Studies at the University of Manchester, Director of the Confucius Institute and Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Architecture.

• What first inspired you to work in urban studies and sustainability? 

  I arrived at urban studies from architecture, but it was never a straightforward transition. Working as an architect, I often found myself questioning my role in shaping cities — designing spaces that fit neatly into the visions of developers and policymakers, yet feeling increasingly uneasy about the social, economic, and environmental consequences of these projects. Was I complicit in reinforcing the very inequalities I was intellectually committed to challenging? That realisation led me to step away from architectural practice and into research, where I could interrogate these processes from a different perspective. 

  My early work in Shanghai — where extreme urban transformation was happening before my eyes — cemented my commitment to understanding cities as complex, entangled systems. I was fascinated by how seemingly mundane decisions about housing, infrastructure, or public space shaped not only the physical city but also the social lives of its residents. Urban sustainability, to me, has always been about more than just energy efficiency or green technologies; it is about recognising that infrastructure, social practices, and ecological systems are deeply intertwined. A change in one inevitably sets off ripples through the others. That understanding continues to drive my work today – thinking about how cities evolve, who gets to shape them, and what more just, sustainable urban futures might look like. 

• As a trustee of AzuKo, what excites you most about the charity’s approach to sanitation and community-led development? 

  What excites me most is how AzuKo puts communities in the driver’s seat.

“The team at AzuKo does not believe in one-size-fits-all fixes – we work with residents to design and implement solutions that make sense locally​.”

For example, in one informal settlement AzuKo helped refurbish an old building into a new sanitation and shower facility, but it’s the community committee that manages it day-to-day​. Seeing residents (women and men alike) take charge — forming committees, maintaining facilities, planning upgrades — is incredibly energising​. This community-led approach means the improvements are culturally appropriate, more likely to last, and transformative for everyone involved. It turns a technical project into a social process, strengthening community bonds and dignity along with infrastructural outcomes. 

• How can architects, planners, and policymakers ensure that infrastructure projects, including water and sanitation systems, are not just technically sound but also socially equitable? 

  The key is — quite obviously — to plan with people, not just for people. Technical soundness is critical, but a project will fall flat if it ignores who benefits or who might be left out. Early on, involve the communities who will use what you design — invite their ideas and listen to their concerns. By encouraging meaningful community engagement and making local organisations true partners, projects can be tailored to fit community needs, leading to fairer outcomes​. Practically, this means asking questions like “Who is benefiting, who is impacted, and who is paying for this project?”​

  When architects and policymakers actively collaborate with residents — holding inclusive design workshops, doing outreach (in multiple languages!), respecting cultural traditions — what we put in place ends up being accessible and beneficial to all.

“In short, treat infrastructure and the built environment as a social undertaking: combine good engineering and design with empathy and transparency. ”

That way, a new water supply or sewer isn’t just technically efficient, but also equitably serves the whole community. 

• What are the biggest barriers to achieving universal access to clean water and sanitation? 

  One of the biggest barriers is the assumption that there is a single ‘best’ solution — often imagined as large-scale, networked infrastructure. In reality, people have long been improvising, maintaining, and adapting their own water and sanitation solutions, particularly in contexts where formal services are absent, unreliable, or unaffordable. The challenge isn’t just about expanding infrastructure but about recognising and supporting the systems that already work — whether they are small-scale, decentralised, or embedded in local practices of water collection, reuse, or waste management. 

  Cultural norms, economic constraints, and everyday routines all shape how people engage with water and sanitation. What works in one place might be inappropriate, impractical, or even harmful in another. Some communities rely on shared or communal facilities not out of necessity but because they serve social functions, while others manage sanitation through systems that don’t fit neatly into conventional engineering categories. Overlooking these everyday practices in favour of standardised, one-size-fits-all solutions can lead to infrastructure that is underused, unaffordable to maintain, or simply unsustainable in the long run. 

  Another major barrier is the way sanitation is often treated as separate from other aspects of urban life. Water, housing, waste, and hygiene are all deeply interconnected — solutions that ignore these entanglements tend to fall short. For example, improving sanitation in an informal settlement without addressing housing security risks displacing residents altogether; introducing water points without considering how they will be maintained can create dependencies rather than durable solutions. 

  Ultimately, achieving universal access means recognising that sanitation is not just about infrastructure — it is about people, practices, and place. A more sustainable approach doesn’t just build new systems but works with what exists, strengthens what is already effective, and adapts solutions to local realities rather than imposing external models. 

• What advice would you give to urban planners, engineers, and development practitioners who want to make a positive impact in the WASH sector? 

  Think in systems and think long-term. It’s easy to focus on the immediate task of building a well or a toilet but remember that water and sanitation (WASH) exist in a whole ecosystem of people, institutions, and nature.  

  My advice is to work on strengthening that whole system, not just the hardware​. For example, if you’re an engineer designing a water system, also consider how it will be managed and maintained locally in five or ten years — maybe that means training community members or setting up a financing plan for spare parts.  

  Collaborate widely: partner with local governments, community leaders, NGOs, and even researchers, because WASH challenges cross disciplinary lines and no single expert has all the answers​.  

  Stay humble and listen to the community — their insights about local conditions and customs are gold when tailoring solutions.

“Importantly, prioritise inclusion: make sure women and marginalised groups have a voice in planning, since they often bring perspectives that improve a project’s sustainability (and they’re usually the ones most affected by water issues)​. ”

• How can the public, professionals, and organisations take meaningful action this World Water Day? 

  World Water Day is all about collective action, so everyone has a role. For the public, even small changes in daily life can add up — the 2023 campaign’s motto was ‘Be the change’, encouraging people to alter how they use and manage water at home​. This could mean fixing that leaky tap, taking shorter showers, or not wasting clean water on things like washing cars. These might feel like tiny actions, but they ripple outward: for instance, saving water at home also saves energy (because less pumping and treatment is needed)​ and that helps the broader environment.  

  Professionals — like urban planners and engineers — can, of course, use their expertise to design water-efficient buildings, advocate for rainwater harvesting or reuse in projects, and ensure their plans prioritise access for under-served communities.  

  Organisations and companies can step up by committing to sustainable water use and supporting WASH initiatives. Many join the UN’s Water Action Agenda, making public pledges to do better. On World Water Day, some may host community events, clean-ups of local rivers, or fundraisers for clean water projects.

  The important thing is to do something. As the UN Secretary-General reminded us, the world is off-track on water goals, but we can all help accelerate change​. Whether it’s educating yourself and others, volunteering, donating to a water charity, or changing your own habits, each action is a piece of the puzzle. When lots of us contribute, we can make real progress toward water and sanitation for everyone. 

Learn more about AzuKo’s focus on Decent toilets →