We consider the impact of our projects in equal measure to our financial goals as a company, and always push our methodologies to ensure that we can achieve as much impact as possible across all of our projects.
The key sustainable development goals we currently target are:
The key sustainable development goals we are working towards are:
MEASURING IMPACT
We believe in the importance of revisiting our projects and assessing the impact beyond the completion of each build. By evaluating the impact on the local community and the international participants we are able to determine whether our working methods fulfil our objectives.
We use the following criteria to form the basis of our post-completion evaluation:
Long term economic independence of the community and structure.
Social function of the build for the community.
Low/positive environmental impact on the surroundings.
The physical building durability and longevity.
How the building is being used.
Wider impact on local design and construction techniques.
Local community and international participants increased employability.
Increased knowledge, skill and cultural awareness for all involved.
IMPACT REPORT
As part of our post project evaluation, we review and summarise our impact in an annual report. This report is intended to provide a framework for measuring our impact, as well as a way to build upon it in future years!
We have outlined some of the highlights and case studies below.
Our full impact report can be accessed here:
FEATURED CASE STUDIES
WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION - EVERGREEN SCHOOL
Women currently make up 14% of the construction profession in the UK, a number which is considerably lower in the majority of the rest of world. The industry has always been very heavily male dominated, especially on site. Although these misconceptions about gender specific roles are beginning to diminish, we certainly feel that we can do much more as a profession to encourage women to pursue site management, construction management and on-site roles! We take an active role in this through employing and training local women on our sites, not to mention the fact that over 70% of our international participants are female!
MoA employed over 30 local workers, managed by CAUKIN Studio for the duration of the Evergreen School build- of which, over 50% of the core team were female. With unemployment rates in Zambia being so high, it was important that this project also became a vehicle to teach workers new skills increasing their opportunity for future employment.
CYCLONE HAROLD - RANWAS SCHOOL
On the 6th April 2020, Vanuatu was hit by a category 5 cyclone, causing widespread destruction. In many areas, including Ranwas Village, the tropical cyclone was the strongest storm in history, destroying crops, vegetation, communication towers, water supplies and 90% of buildings. Just 6 months after completing Ranwas School it faced its first major test, and re-emerged after the storm unscathed.
The school was one of only 3 buildings that remained in good condition, and will now provide the community a space to shelter whilst the reconstruction efforts are underway. This natural disaster highlights just how crucial it is for us to ensure we understand and design appropriately for the climatic issues in the areas which we build.
INCREASED ATTENDANCE - NAWENI KINDERGARTEN
Since completion in September 2017, the Naweni Kindergarten has seen numbers of children attending rise from 8 to over 30. The increased size, ventilation and natural lighting all contribute towards a higher quality learning environment that has attracted children from a number of different villages and settlements to attend. Not only is the kindergarten now at maximum capacity, but the children’s grades have progressed as well as their enthusiasm to learn and concentration in class.
This case study demonstrated to us the unexpected outcomes of undertaking such projects and the importance of designing in flexibility.
Response: we returned to the Naweni Kindergarten in 2019 to construct a second classroom which will enable class sizes to grow to 50 children, allowing the school’s two kindergarten teachers to teach separate classes simultaneously .
INCREASED SALES - NAIDI COMMUNITY HALL
The Naidi Community Women’s group now have a place to gather, host discussions and work on their hand-made crafts. In the past, the women have sold their crafts individually outside their homes, but now that the new hall provides a dedicated space for these occasions the sales have increased significantly, providing a sustainable income for the families.
Since it’s completion in 2019, the space has also been utilised as a village kindergarten 2 days per week. Due to it’s success as a kindergarten, the government has recently sent a village member to university to train to become a fully qualified teacher, allowing the kindergarten to operate 5 days per week.
LOCAL INITIATIVES - VIVILI COMMUNITY HALL
Joey, a local resident of Vivili village played a key role in the construction of the new community hall in 2017. As part of his commitment towards the project, Joey helped out on-site every day, contributing his knowledge of construction. Through the ongoing collaboration with the international participants, hybrid design solutions and new construction techniques were introduced to his building knowledge. As a result, Joey began his own construction company, offering his newly-improved skills in construction on projects in the surrounding villages.
MEKE REVIVAL - SAVUDRODRO COMMUNITY HALL
After the completion of the Savudrodro Community Hall, the villagers have used the space to revive their Meke (traditional Fijian dance) and now perform at the local resorts. Prior to the completion of the hall, the Savudrodro Meke was only known by a handful of the villagers, but with the opening ceremony fast approaching, the community took it upon themselves to re-learn what had been forgotten. Our international participants got involved and danced alongside the men and women on the opening day.
Nemai Divuluki - Naidi Community Hall
Whilst working on the Naidi Community Hall, two members of our team stayed in the Miller Household. Nemai Divuluki has lived in this house for years and due to old age has become immobile. As a result, she had not left her house for 4 years. She's a highly respected woman in the Naidi Community and this video shows the day that we found an old wheelchair in the village to take Nemai to see the community hall being built in her village!