Read our Annual Report, packed full of insights into our work to end housing poverty, in Bangladesh and the UK.
“AzuKo’s mission to build a fairer world, has never been more important. Our work is life-saving, and life-changing – rooted in the belief that given the opportunity and the right support people can rise above poverty.”
Jakhya Rahman-Corey, Director of the Swarovski Foundation, joined AzuKo’s Board of Trustees, bringing a wealth of experience in global philanthropy, strategy development, and sustainability. Read about her recent trip to Bangladesh, where she visited our work across Dinajpur district.
AzuKo's unwavering commitment to innovative architectural solutions for underserved communities has left a lasting impression on me. I wanted to share my personal insights and reflect on the significant impact AzuKo is making in Bangladesh, supported by compelling statistics that underscore the urgency of their mission.
Understanding the housing challenge in Bangladesh
To grasp the scale of the housing challenge faced by communities in Bangladesh, it is important to consider the following statistics:
Housing shortage – By 2030, UN-Habitat estimates that three billion people, about 40% of the world’s population, will need access to adequate housing. Within Bangladesh, millions are heading to cities to tap into economic opportunities, causing booming urban growth, which poses numerous challenges for families and individuals.
Informal settlements – Many people find themselves living in informal settlements with inadequate infrastructure and limited access to essential services. These settlements often lack basic amenities and fail to provide a secure and dignified living environment.
AzuKo's transformative architectural solutions
During my visit to Dinajpur, I had the privilege of witnessing AzuKo's transformative work first-hand, specifically their efforts to build houses and toilets for underserved communities.
Building safe and sustainable homes – AzuKo's architectural solutions prioritise safety and sustainability. Their focus on constructing structurally sound and environmentally friendly homes ensures that families have a secure place to live. It was inspiring to see how AzuKo's designs blend functionality with cultural sensitivity, creating spaces that resonate with the community's needs.
Addressing sanitation needs – Approximately 46% of the population in Bangladesh don’t have access to a clean, safe toilet of their own. AzuKo's efforts to build safe and hygienic toilets for marginalised communities not only improves health outcomes but also enables a cleaner environment for the communities they serve.
Collaborative approach – AzuKo's success lies in their collaborative approach. They actively engage community members throughout the entire process, ensuring that their voices are heard and their specific needs are met. By involving the community, AzuKo fosters a sense of ownership and empowers individuals to take charge of their own living conditions.
Personal reflections
This visit has been an eye-opening experience that has reaffirmed the importance of AzuKo’s mission. The statistics on the housing shortage and inadequate sanitation facilities emphasise the pressing need for organisations like AzuKo.
As a Trustee, I am more dedicated than ever to supporting AzuKo's transformative initiatives. By providing resources and spreading awareness, we can contribute to their efforts in building safe and sustainable homes, improving sanitation, and ultimately uplifting communities in need.
Huge thanks to the team, and fellow Trustees, for all the efforts made to drive forward the charity’s aims. Together, let us support AzuKo’s work towards sustainable change, ensuring that every individual has access to safe housing and amenities for a better future.
I urge you to donate and support AzuKo’ efforts.
Author: J. Rahman-Corey
When you meet Aretha, it’s clear she’s on track to make a difference. Her energy and enthusiasm for whatever she’s involved with – studies, tutoring, volunteer work – is infectious.
She’s currently studying a Masters in Engineering and Architectural Design in London, and contributes to important dialogues to increase diversity in the profession, such as the Black Females in Architecture network.
“I began to seek architectural experience during my final years of sixth form, it quickly became apparent that I could not see myself reflected within the industry.”
An early mentoring experience at the age of 17, which helped pave her way into architecture school, has motivated Aretha to give back. She joined AzuKo’s Designing with dignity course in Bangladesh to learn about humanitarian architecture, and the tools to design more ethically and collaboratively.
“Designing with dignity is a hands-on, life-enriching course that pushes you to the edge of your comfort zone. It challenges you to question every pre-conceived notion you have of architecture and encourages a truly collaborative design process, where every voice can be heard.”
Throughout the course, Aretha worked hard to listen, learn and lead with empathy. She helped conduct a needs assessment, map a community and their assets, and held interviews to understand more about the challenges people face, their hopes and dreams.
Almost half the population of Bangladesh don’t have access to a clean, safe toilet of their own. It’s simply unacceptable. Aretha was not afraid to get her hands dirty. Working alongside a family, and supported by our local construction team, she built a new twin-pit, pour-flush toilet. An incredible achievement, that will bring safety and dignity.
“I learned that it is really important not to centre yourself within humanitarian work, especially when building for others or creating things that need to benefit other people. It can be so easy to impose your own way of doing things (even if you have the best of intentions) but this is not how you achieve the best result. I think it really strengthened my ability to listen and help.”
Inspired by her time on the course, Aretha is now looking to take a new module ‘Engineering for International Development’ during her final year at university. She has recently been accepted on a summer course to improve water, sanitation and hygiene in schools in Uganda, and will be mentoring 16-18 year olds in the UK sharing her experience and helping to break down barriers to architecture.
Want to know more? Register your interest to join Designing with dignity, Bangladesh in 2024.
