2025: Year in review

Around the world, too many people are still living without the basics – including a safe, secure home. Progress continues to be slowed by conflict, climate shocks, widening inequality and rising debt.

Against this backdrop, AzuKo sharpened its focus in 2025. We believe everyone, everywhere deserves a safe place to call home. Here’s a snapshot of what we achieved last year, and the communities at the heart of that progress:

JANUARY

We expanded our housing advice services, helping people navigate tenancy and occupancy issues, plan safer homes after disasters, and understand their housing rights. When we’re not the right people to help, we connect families to trusted partners who can.

FEBRUARY

Supporters continued to raise awareness and vital funds for our work. Ann and Lynne held a car boot sale in Gateshead, giving new life to pre-loved items. Feeling inspired? Why not set yourself a challenge in aid of AzuKo this year →

MARCH

In rural northwest Bangladesh, a decent toilet remains the number one priority for the women and families we support. It brings dignity, safety and better health. As word spreads, more families are reaching out to AzuKo. We need your help to meet the growing demand →

APRIL

Milestone: Since AzuKo began in 2014, more than 6,100 people have attended our events. On Earth Day, we brought together housing and design experts to explore the links between social justice, place and wellbeing – and why they matter.

“Before, we had to go outside to the fields, which was unsafe, especially for women. Now, we have privacy, security, and better hygiene. It has changed our lives.”

— Moniabala (new toilet, Bangladesh)

MAY

Our mapping work with South Woodford community in London was shortlisted for the Esri Success Award. The team presented at their Annual Conference attended by over 2,500 people, showing how community-owned data can shape better local development. Learn more →

JUNE

Milestone: We set an ambitious goal to train 1,000 women in construction between 2023 and 2025. We’re proud to have trained 1,118 women in the past three years – and nearly 1,800 people since our Build for safety training began in 2018.

JULY

A safe, healthy home is the foundation for a decent life. Many of the homes we build are modest in size but powerful in impact. Read Amena’s story and see how her improved kitchen is changing daily life →

AUGUST

We attended World Water Week and the Sustainable Sanitation Alliance meeting in Sweden. These global gatherings help us learn, share, and strengthen the movement for housing justice. Read what we took away from the events →

“When I think of the future we are building, I don’t see numbers. I see a girl who stays in school. A mother living in good health. A grandmother who no longer fears searching for a place to go to the toilet at night.

That is progress worth fighting for.”

— Jo (CEO)

SEPTEMBER

Our award-winning short film Building Resilience continues to educate and inspire audiences around the world – with screenings reaching Jeju Island in South Korea. It shows what’s possible when women gain the skills to build safer homes. Watch here →

OCTOBER

We were proud to be named a finalist in the prestigious Clifford Chance SDG Awards, recognising outstanding contributions toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It’s an encouraging nod to the collective effort behind our work.

NOVEMBER

Milestone: More than 725 women have been supported through housing finance initiatives – including financial training, savings groups, new bank accounts and peer learning visits. Can you help us reach 1,000 women by the end of 2026?

DECEMBER

Together, we raised an incredible £25,424 through our annual appeal. Every gift helps create a pathway out of poverty for families we work alongside. Watch our video to see the real difference your support makes →

The new year is a chance to achieve more, together. Get in touch if you’d like to make a difference in 2026. We’d love to hear from you.

Are you our new Fundraising Officer?

UPDATE: Thank you to everyone who applied for this role. We are no longer accepting applications. The role has now been filled.

Looking for a dynamic role in charity fundraising? Join us.

Good design improves lives. We need your help to build a fairer world. We’re looking for an individual who is proactive, highly organised and an excellent communicator, and who is motivated to develop their skills in fundraising.

ROLE OVERVIEW

You’ll be helping AzuKo connect with current and potential donors to raise vital funds and ensure we continue supporting those in need. The role involves conducting research, bid writing, building relationships and growing our network.

It’s an opportunity to develop your skills in fundraising at an innovative and empathic charity. You’ll gain an in-depth understanding of AzuKo, the charity sector, and nature of housing poverty globally.

Read the full role description here →

Homemakers – Building safety and stability

Across Bangladesh, women hold families together through daily acts of care, resourcefulness and quiet determination. They are the ones who repair leaking roofs, manage uneven incomes, stretch meals, soothe anxieties and keep homes functioning through storms, floods and uncertainty. AzuKo’s idea of the Homemaker recognises this labour as a form of leadership. It reflects the strength of women who create safety for others long before they feel safe themselves.

Three women, Nondo, Gayitri, and Ratna, shared how this plays out in their own homes and communities.

Nondo: Creating stability one decision at a time

Nondo manages a household of six, supported by her husband whose income rises and falls with agricultural seasons. Before joining her women’s savings group, the family had no safety net to rely on. Emergencies meant borrowing at high interest, and home repairs were often delayed because money was simply not available.

AzuKo helped establish the savings group she joined, and it has become a lifeline. As the group’s cashier, Nondo learned how to save securely, keep records and manage small loans for the women around her. It gives her confidence and a trusted role in her community.

A small loan from the group helped her repair the family kitchen when the roof and posts failed. It was a simple repair but one that brought immediate relief. With each improvement, she feels more in control of the home she works so hard to maintain.

Her hope is clear. “I want my children to have a better life than I did.”

“Now the money is in our hands, and we can help each other. People trust me. They come to me for advice, and they listen to my voice.”

— Nondo

Gayitri: Rebuilding for tomorrow

Floods mark the rhythm of life in Gayitri’s community. In 2017, a major flood destroyed her home completely. The family rebuilt with whatever materials they could afford, but the house remained fragile. Every storm brought fear that the structure might fail again.

When AzuKo delivered construction workshops for women in her area, everything changed. Gayitri learned how to strengthen a home through crossbracing, improved joints, treated bamboo and small, manageable steps. Her new room is a place where neighbours come to hear what she has learned. As Chair of her savings group, she shares knowledge widely so other women can improve their homes too.

“The training taught me how to build for the future. I repaired the house myself. One room is strong now. I will strengthen the rest little by little.”

— Gayitri

Her aim is simple. “Every family should have a house that can survive the storms.”

Ratna: Leading by example

Ratna is a long standing member of her local savings group, and someone who speaks up for safer housing in her community. Years of living with a leaking roof and an unstable floor pushed her to take part in Build for safety training. She wanted to understand how small changes could make her home more stable and secure.

She told us that joining the savings group was a turning point. It gave her the confidence to plan improvements and to support other women who were facing the same housing challenges.

“I learned that we can make our houses stronger when we work together. When one woman learns something, all of us learn.”

— Ratna

Ratna now plays an active role in helping neighbours identify dangers in their homes and encouraging them to save towards essential repairs. Her determination shows how practical knowledge and collective effort can reduce risk for entire streets, not just individual households.

Why their stories matter

These women show what it takes to create safety in places where the climate is unpredictable and resources are limited. They are raising children, supporting neighbours and improving their homes piece by piece. Their stories embody what it means to be a Homemaker, shaping spaces that protect families today and give hope for tomorrow.

Donate to AzuKo today → Your gift will help more women like Nondo, Gayitri and Ratna strengthen their homes, and build resilient communities.