Habitat for Humanity is starting to look for architects and engineers with relevant skills to start organizing for the next phase of the recovery process in Haiti. You can find and share information about this opportunity at: http://www.habitat.org/ivp/apply_now.aspx

AWB is actively engaging in discussions to identify opportunities to assist in a coordinated disaster recovery effort. We will post updates to the website as more information becomes available – www.awb-seattle.org.

While AWB-Seattle is not a first responder in the event of disaster, instead focussing our work on long term recovery efforts, we hope to support those now involved in the response effort.  At this point, cash donations are the most effective way to do this and we hope you will consider making a contribution.

Below is a list of organizations you can contribute to:

• Habitat for Humanity
• Architecture for Humanity
• The American Red Cross
• UNICEF
• World Vision
• Oxfam
• Doctors Without Borders
• Mercy Corps

For updated information on the situation and additional information on how you can help you can check the following websites:

The Whitehouse

USAID

Earthquake Haiti Facebook page

In coming weeks AWB-Seattle will be organizing an effort to help Haiti rebuild and recover from this catastrophe. We will keep you posted as we progress. Please check for updates on our website.

Thanks,

Ben Spencer
President
Architects w/o Borders-Seattle

Volunteer Architect, Liberia

Overview:

Following 14 years of civil war (1989-2003), Liberia’s healthcare system was devastated. Severe shortages of drugs, supplies, qualified clinicians and adequate facilities left most Liberians with little or no access to primary healthcare services. Under the leadership of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (2005), the health sector has made important strides including the completion of a National Health Policy and National Health Plan (2007-2011), which outlines the objectives, strategies and resources to reform the health sector to effectively deliver health and social welfare services to the people of Liberia. The operational and integrated framework for implementing the National Health Plan (NHP) is based on four key components:
(1) The Basic Package of Health Services (BPHS); (2)
Human Resources for Health;
(3) Infrastructure Development; and (4) Support Systems.

Key to implementing the NHP, Infrastructure Development’s goal is to increase geographic
access to the BPHS through the consolidation of services, major rehabilitation and construction.
Due to numerous challenges such as funding, management, limited materials, high costs, etc. the
Infrastructure Unit has had significant challenges in trying to meet this goal and more specifically
the PRS target of 205 rehabilitated facilities.
Since 2007, CHAI-Liberia has supported MOHSW in each of the four NHP components with a
strong focus on expanding access to quality HIV care and treatment services.

CHAI-Liberia seeks an experienced architect/construction manager with strong project
management experience to work with the MOHSW Infrastructure Unit to (1) develop office and planning systems to improve the Unit’s efficiency and efficacy within the Department of Planning, Research & Development/MOHSW and (2) creatively identify sustainable building solutions to quickly improve the infrastructure and utilities of Liberia’s Government health facilities.

Responsibilities:

• The TA will work out of the Infrastructure Unit Office and report to the CHAI Program Director for Health System Strengthening
• Strengthen/Develop office systems and the department’s operational process: Working closely with all members of the Infrastructure Unit, the TA will identify the current office systems, individual roles and project status. Using this assessment, the TA will mentor the department to develop and implement systems that best utilize individual skill sets and available resources in order to meet clearly defined large and small project targets.
• Mentor department on the creative use of architecture software and design to think about sustainable build solutions: Using architectural and engineering software, creative design and research, the TA will mentor the Unit to identify, plan and implement sustainable build, lighting and waste management solutions for clinics, health centers and hospitals and where applicable draft MOHSW policy (e.g., an energy policy for health facility builds).
• Strengthen planning to meet PRS and long-term goals: The TA will help the department identify, document and cost its current project implementation status. From which, the TA will work with the department to identify a detailed workplan to meet its targets for rehabilitation and new construction; forecast costs and work with the department to mobilize funding. Additionally, the TA will help the department to plan and operationalize ongoing small project and repair management (e.g., window replacement, air conditioner installation, roof repairs, etc).

Qualifications:

• Three to five years experience in office management including strategy, planning, forecasting, budgeting, monitoring and evaluation.
• Demonstrated Project or Engineering Management experience from feasibility to completion/evaluation.
• Proficiency in CAD Architecture: Auto CAD, Revit, Data CAD, Home Pro Plan, Archi CAD
• Operation Systems: Mac and Windows OS
• Others: MSOffice (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)

Experience with the following is strongly preferred but not required:

• Health facility design, management & construction
• Construction and maintenance in constrained resource countries
• Renewable energy sources, waste management and sanitation
• Mobilizing donor funding

Please use your personal network to spread the word.
You can find links below for the Position Profile as well as some information on CHL East Timor.

Do not apply directly to this email address, but rather to chris.hollonds@chl.org.au

Job Posting

Community Housing East Timor Brochure

RSVP: 2008soiree@awb-seattle.org

If you have silent auction donations please contact Rachael Meyer.

Architects w/o Borders-Seattle is sending a delegation to Guatemala on June 12th to initiate a program aimed at improving housing and infrastructure in the urban squatter communities surrounding Guatemala City through small scale design interventions.

Camino Seguro, AWB-Seattle’s partner organization that does work in the squatter communities of Zona 3 – has made an emergency last minute request:

We are in desperate need for raincoats for all of our children (ages 2-18 years old) The organization that was supposed to bring us 500 raincoats, has just fallen through. Rainy season has just begun in Guatemala and raincoats will provide warmth and protection from the elements for the children in Guatemala City’s urban slums. They will bolster the strength of children’s immune systems and help combat the spread of malaria, cholera, leptospirosis, hepatitus A and typhoid – diseases that strike during the rainy season.

As a symbolic gesture with tangible impact on children’s health, raincoats are a fitting start to AWB-Seattle’s mission to help improve shelter in Guatemala City’s urban slums through incremental, small-scale design intervention. They represent the kind of projects we hope undertake in the city in years to come.

Please help us bring shelter to the children of Guatemala City by bringing your used raincoats to:

1. Hybrid Architects at 1205 East Pike St. on the corner of 12th and E Pike. There will be a donation box in the entry lobby marked AWB-Seattle Guatemala Raincoat Drive. The lobby will be open 10AM until 5:30PM on Saturday and Sunday and from 8AM until 6:30PM from Monday thru Friday.
2. Mithun at 1201 Alaskan Way at Pier 56. There will be a donation box in the first floor entry way marked AWB-Seattle Guatemala Raincoat Drive. This is open Monday until Thursday from 7:30 am to 5:30pm.
3. After hours drop-offs can be made at the Betsy Ross Condominium at 1120 17th Ave. There will be a box on the front porch. Donations will be accepted until 3:00PM on Thursday, June 12th.
4. 842 NE Ravenna Blvd. Donations can be left at the front door. This is a private residence so please be respectful when dropping donations off.

If you have questions or have a dozen or more raincoats to donate with no way to get to a drop-off point please e-mail bens@awb-seattle.org.

Voting is done.  Check out the results below.

(click on image for full submission)

Submission #1

Submission #2

Submission #3

Submission #4

Submission #5

Please email Paul, paul.wu@pse.com, if you think you might be interested in any aspect of the recovery effort – please be sure to include your availability and any areas of expertise you have that might apply.

T-shirt mosaic

Have: cotton T-shirt, Need: great graphics
AWB is having a T-shirt contest!
Show off those design skills by submitting a graphic to be the ready-to-wear face of AWB Seattle.

The Design:
1- Designs will be single color. Suggestions for graphic and tee color are welcome but not mandatory.
2- Enter as many designs as you wish, however each submission should be in a separate email.
3- Specify front or back or both (front/back).
4- Graphic must include AWBS, Architects without Borders Seattle, or AWB Seattle in some way.
5- Points for clarity! (Super fine lines don’t screenprint as well.)

The Entry:
Email your entry to tshirt@awb-seattle.org. Please attached your graphic as a black and white pdf graphic, max 1MB. Front/Back graphics should be two page pdfs. If Front/Back, please specify which graphic is which. In your submission email, please include the following:

Name:
Email address:
Phone number:
Front, Back, Front/Back:
Suggested color for graphic:
Suggested color for tee:
Approximate graphic size:

Timing is everything:
Entries are due by 9 PM on Wednesday, May 28th.
You will receive a confirmation email as receipt of your entry. If you do not receive this email, please contact Michaelg@awb-seattle.org.
Entries will be reviewed and a shortlist of 5 graphics will be posted for internet voting on Mon, June 2nd. Voting will remain open for two weeks. The winner of the contest will be notified by notified by Wednesday, June 18th.

Thank you! We look forward to seeing your design genius!

Your submission constitutes your grant of a royalty-free license to AWB-Seattle for AWB-Seattle to use your design in AWB’s T-Shirts and other materials. Thank You.