These are the temporary shelters that children from refugee camps along the border in Mae Sot are currently staying. Most are Burmese children at the risk of child trafficking, exploitation, and orphans. At the camps they were not allowed freedom and could not go to school. Save the Children and other organizations "rescue" them out so they can get education and have better living conditions. They will move from this temporary shelter to a new permanent shelter which is larger.
This is a new permanent shelter that Life Impact Organization has started building for the children. They will move here in May when it's done. The new shelter provides a living environment that is more like "family" (spread out in their own houses with guardians) as opposed to the current environment which is more like an "institution" (living all together in one big room). It also allows more room for children to play. Habitat for Humanity will be helping to construct the new houses.
Ok, so as architects, what do you guys think? :)
and what about the buffalo?
ReplyDeleteAs a person I think that the effort to provide better housing is very much needed. You should ask yourself if there are differences between the goals and/or methods of the various organizations involved with this type of work and if you are working with a group of people that you truly support. The residential configuration sounds great (smaller groups with a guardian figure as opposed to a large dormitory setup) but are there even better configurations in your opinion? Can you think of ways to devote materials/resources in more efficient manners? You should be proud of your work, but (still) be critical of the process!
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