According to WHO, approximately 1.2 billion people in the world live in extreme poverty (less than one dollar per day). Poverty often creates leads to ill-health as people live in environments that make them sick, without decent shelter, clean water or adequate sanitation. 

Smart Shelter Foundation is a non-profit organization, which builds in smart ways in developing countries, and transfers its knowledge of building technology to the local people.

The Foundation contributes to improve the living standards of the poorest in the fields of safe and affordable housing, and provides on-site training to the local construction workers. This way they help the recipients in improving their living conditions themselves.

The Smart Shelter projects have included post-tsunami housing in Sri Lanka in 2005 and 2006; a “safe, child-friendly and playful” pre-school in Vellalapatty in southern India (2007), meant to encourage parents to keep their kids learning; and 13 earthquake-resistant mountain schools and an animal and agricultural center in Nepal in 2008 and 2009.

Supported by organizations and individual sponsors, Smart Shelter plans to continue designing new solutions of fiscal structure alongside the schools, homes and community centers.

Designed by
Martijn Schildkamp (architect) - The Netherlands

Website
http://www.smartshelterfoundation.org
http://cadc.auburn.edu/soa/rural-studio
http://www.shigerubanarchitects.com