“We believe good design improves lives and we need your help. We’re seeking an experienced and motivated design researcher to join our team in London.”
Calling all research hungry candidates with a passion for human-centred design - apply for our new position of Research Associate.
Application deadline: 20 April
UPDATE: WE ARE NO LONGER RECEIVING APPLICATIONS
On 3 April, two runners laced up their trainers and hit the streets of Paris to run a marathon in aid of AzuKo. Justin and Jo raised a staggering £2507 to support our current project in Jogen Babu Maath slum. Hear how they got on...
(Photo: Paris marathon)
Last Sunday we took on our biggest challenge yet. 42 kilometres through the streets of Paris. 19 degrees and not a cloud in sight. Thankfully the fire brigade was out in force with their hoses, to keep us cool.
Alongside 43,000 runners we set off at the Arc de Triomphe and down the magnificent Champs-Élysées. We trained in London, navigating the Dickensian streets for four months - now lay ahead of us boulevards so straight and so long, the finish line seemed unreachable. The sound of feet pounding the pavement becomes our soundtrack. Just need to keep moving forward. Every step, every kilometre, brings us closer to home.
(Map: Paris marathon app)
A glance to the right to sneak a peek at the Louvre, before regaining focus and taking on more fluids to fight the heat. We begin to climb Avenue Daumesnil before the first of two off road sections in the 12th arrondissement. As we emerge from the trees, we've reached the half way point. A half marathon done, one more to go. Legs. Still. Going. Strong?
We've all heard of the wall. How you manage to push past it will come down to you and you alone. But no-one mentioned multiple walls... multiple barricades. The first one hits us at around 23 kilometres on the banks of the river Seine.
“With the Eiffel tower soaring over us, the sun beats down, the distance between water stations seems to lengthen, every molehill is a mountain. But the sound of just one voice from the crowd, “Allez Justin... Allez Jo” makes us run tall, again.”
(Photos: J. Brown / Tag Heuer)
We pass Notre-Dame. It's judgement day. We pass the Musée d'Orsay and reach the 30 kilometre milestone. Pain is starting to set in now. It's moving from the knee to the left hip to the arch of the right foot. This can't be right, it's only in the mind. Just keep running.
As we enter the Bois de Bologne, we can almost taste the finish line. 10 kilometres - that's just another hour, right!? But it's too difficult to keep up the pace. The slower you get, the further away the finish line drifts. We begin to recognise faces. These people will become our family in the last exhausting moments. You start to build stories in your mind about who they are, and why they're running. All shapes and sizes, doing what they can to become heroes for a day. We're willing each other on. A runner stops to catch his breath. We shout to remind him we're in it together and will finish it together.
Counting down the kilometres now, 9... 8... 7... 6... the 5 kilometre signpost is in sight. Come on hip, stay with me. The pain is no longer in the mind. It's real. It's very real. Just keep moving.
4... 3... 2... 1 kilometre to go! Where is that finish line!?
... and there it is. After months of gruelling training in the wind and rain and snow, it's ahead of us. Right there. Tears well up in the eyes. Come on legs, bring us home. The crowd is deafening. Courage in those final steps. Keep it together. Run tall.
“Thoughts of every single person who has supported us and who is cheering for us now, choke the throat. This is for you. This is for Jogen Babu Maath.”
42.195 kilometres... done. 5 hours 36 minutes. Paris marathon you have been the challenge of a lifetime.
(Photos: Paris marathon / J. Brown)
Justin and Jo would like to thank their amazing supporters:
Allan Green / Andra Antone / Andrea Chorlton / Andrew Lewis / Anne Ashbridge / Beth Ashbridge / Cathy Russell / Chris Atkinson / Clare Willan / Craig More / Dee Formaggia / Dimitra Dantsiou / Dov Querfurth / Ed Sayce / Elaine Proud / Eleanor Earl / Elyse Howell-Price / Emma Wheatley / Emily Butt / Gabriella Piccolo / Gary Marshall / George Knott / George Proud / Glen Barlow / Grace Murray / Graham Nicol / Grant Sellars / Hannah Bryan / Hannah Dunnell / Hilary Battye / Janine Brown / Jenny Thomas / Jim Ashbridge / Jim Brown / Joey Augustin / John Harkness / Jon Humphreys / Julia Phillips / Justin Goh / Katherine Thomas / Keren Querfurth / Lucie Murray / Luke Davis / Lynne Ashbridge / Mahdi Hajiaghayi / Mark Thompson / Martin Battye / Maureen Brown / Molly Ashbridge / Paul Esslemont / Philippa Battye / Pilvi Haltunnen / Rachael Atkinson / Rachel Esslemont / Reinier Zeldenrust / Ruth Baker / Sam Bartlett / Sarah Wai / Stephen Ashbridge / Steve Baumann / Terry Ward / William Bartlett
We champion community-driven development, working with disadvantaged communities not for them. That difference in wording may be slight but it means a great deal. It means dignity. You've all heard the phrase, "give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime", well that's exactly what AzuKo does through the power of design.
But we couldn't do it without our truly wonderful supporters and that's why we like to shout about them. We have two runners taking on 26.2 miles at the Paris marathon this Sunday. We spoke to Justin Brown, Founder of native north architects, to find out why he's taking on this mammoth challenge in support of our infrastructure project in JBM slum.
(Photo: J. Ashbridge)
I'm a 30 year old Scotsman living and working in London. I'm generally found to be practicing architecture, doing / watching sport or eating. Preferably the latter. Always in search of really good coffee and generally most at rest during cinema sessions.
Absolutely not. I think my longest official run was a non-negotiable slog around a playing field at secondary school in full whites. That was back in a time my legs were also apparently made of rubber and yet to be introduced to the concept of pain. I'd be lying if I didn't say I was a bit excited about the medal and free t-shirt.
Not so much on the running side. I've never run a marathon and never wanted to... not sure how this happened!? I've done some cycle touring which generally consists of promises to friends to cycle the length of France and then actually packing life into two pannier bags and saddling up. I'm not counting that as suitable relevant experience.
(Photo: J. Harkness)
“It’s an opportunity to take stock of how fortunate we are. I have the ability to give something back to those who find themselves in more challenging circumstances.”
I'm told pain is temporary but this marathon training is trying very hard to break that theory.
The very worthy cause is to design a community drainage system in Jogen Babu Maath, which is an urban slum in northwest Bangladesh. I'm particularly motivated by it because it's not a project where help comes in temporary form and makes its escape swiftly after. This project is unique in that it offers continuity. It's a need that has been identified by the community and they will be the ones who are empowered through training and leadership skills to improve their own future. If you haven't already, donate now!
Water and sanitation are an unconscious privilege that we all take for granted every day of our lives in the UK. Think about it - you wake up, go to the loo, take a shower, brush your teeth, make a hot drink - all not possible without drainage infrastructure. It matters hugely when it's not there.
Design has extraordinary potential to change lives, case and point being Thomas Edison's light bulb. The second beautiful reality is that everyone is a designer, so capable to effect change. Captured in one of my favourite quotes:
“The best way to predict the future is to design it.”
Training's been really tough, especially clocking up the miles through the winter months. Running on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day was novel but given it was a balmy winter, we were fortunately spared horizontal sleet in the face. We're generally following an intermediate marathon training plan. It's 17 weeks and occupies what feels like 93% of my life, but on paper is four sessions a week. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday are shorter sessions slowly increasing through the months, with every Sunday being the big effort.
(Photo: Sport Relief)
At first, 26.2 miles means very little. Once we started to run anything around 60 minutes or 10 km, it started to sink in when you finish exhausted and realise, "so I need to do that five more times"!? 10 miles was a huge milestone, alongside our first distance beyond a half marathon... we're now up to 22 miles.
Yes, most of it! Obvious answer is the 15+ mile runs but in reality it's the 45 minute sessions after a long hard day at work. They catch you off guard.
Rest days are mid-week so they're essentially rest evenings. Some good food and a movie are top of the agenda, then washing all of the sports gear.
We've set up a Facebook page following the food, the training milestones, the sad face selfies and most importantly the cause. Check it out: J-Squared Run the Paris Marathon.
Donations can be made through our Virgin Money Giving page. We're also running a prize giveaway for added motivation.
Glancing at the calendar and watching 3rd April fast approaching.
“Whatever your motivations or fears, you are capable. So get out of your own way and do it. Then go inspire someone else to do the same.”
With five days to go till the marathon, there's no turning back now. Our runners have raised an amazing £1879 so far.
