Each year we volunteer with students in Calais where many migrants are living in poor circumstances. We work with different grassroots organisations. Any support is welcome and a relief for the volunteers that are long-term based in Calais! It is also a great opportunity for you to understand the complexity of migration in Europe better. Students generally consider this an important experience and actually enjoy the hands-on activities they contribute to. The vibe among the volunteers is amazing.

We are aware that many universities and student groups would be interested to do the same. It is fairly easy to organize the trip. I hope this email concept helps others to volunteer as well. You only need to make your own Google document for your group to communicate with the organizations. If you have any questions do not hesitate to reach out!

Situation in Calais
In Northern France, displaced people face wet and cold and windy weather conditions, regular police evictions, and a lack of appropriate shelter and support, among a multitude of other challenges. Calais is only 3 hours from the Dutch border, migrants live outside in these inhumane circumstances. Before, there was a big makeshift camp in Calais, also called the “Jungle”. However, the French government frequently evicts makeshift camps without providing adequate alternative solutions. Therefore there is a constant need for support. Due to the inaction of the state and the wider international community, over the years, basic human necessities have been provided by smaller independent grassroots organizations in Calais to support the stranded migrants. Tents, sleeping bags and warm clothing is distributed and each day warm meals are provided and basic toiletries. The migrants are a mix of war refugees, climate refugees and other migrants. They desperately want to cross the canal in the back of a truck or on a boat and reach the UK.

Volunteer work
Principally, aid organisations operate from two main warehouses, stocked mainly from donations, with supplies of food, clothing, sleeping bags, bars of soaps and tampons. They organise distributions of these items, as well as hot meals and generators for people to charge mobile phones. We have selected these two rather large grassroots organizations that welcome larger groups. It would be ideal to divide the group over these two organizations so that it is easier for the organizations to handle. In both organizations, you have the opportunity to interact with the migrants during distributions. More information about these organizations is provided at the end of this email and in the attachment. Note that volunteering is not without obligation. If you subscribe they count on you.

Warehouse 1
Care 4 Calais: They sort and distribute donated goods and food from a warehouse in Calais. Different services are provided to the refugees. Most of the volunteers come from the UK or Belgium.
First Aid Support Team: FAST is a volunteer group of healthcare professionals from the UK and the Netherlands who come to Calais and provide first aid support. They provide refugees with a crucial first point of call regarding health issues, identifying when people need emergency healthcare but also giving wound care advice and bandaging, over the counter medication and general first aid care. The team will often accompany Care4Calais on distributions and are invaluable in helping with the many problems arising from the low living standards to which the refugees are exposed. If you have first aid experience or a medical background you can be of valuable assistance with them.

Warehouse 2:
Refugee Community Kitchen: They prepare 2500 meals per day and distribute them amongst the migrants. There is a great vibe in the kitchen with nice music. In their warehouse, they also chop up wood in the woodyard to provide approximately 10kg packages of wood every day. They collaborate with a big warehouse called Collectiveaid from where goods are distributed.
L'Auberge des Migrants: Since 2008, L’Auberge Des Migrants has been working with refugees and displaced people in Calais and Northern France, providing food and material assistance, support and advocacy. Their objective is to provide emergency material aid, but also to fight to promote the dignity of people in exile, through their actions. This organisation provides wood packages for fires in the woodyard project, and sorts donations for the migrants. They distribute primarily NFI (non-food items) which includes essential clothing, bedding, and hygiene items. This is a big warehouse, located in the same warehouse as the Refugee Community Kitchen. L'Auberge is connected to Utopia56 and Collectiveaid. Most of the volunteers are French and English speaking.

Practical information and registration:
There are some standard details that both warehouses need from you.

• Please register your details in "this spreadsheet".
• ID: upload a copy of your passport or ID in "this folder".
• Insurance: The university is ensured for incidents abroad during internships or study trips. You can subscribe "here" for the insurance.
• Transport: It is about 3.5 hours driving from Eindhoven. It is best to share rides. If you have a car please write down how many spots you have available.
• Accommodation: There is a large youth hostel that offers reduced prices for volunteers (19,00 euro per night, see website). We can make that reservation for you if you leave your details. There are also many Airbnbs in the area that is even cheaper if you share them with a group.
• Dinner: We often have dinner with the whole group of students and lecturers (and sometimes volunteers) in the centre of Calais.
• Additional stop: On your way back you might want to stop over in Brugge or Gent for a night out in one of these lively student cities.

Donations:
Donations are always welcome. Both main organizations have lists available of the most urgent needs. Ask others in your direct environment to donate as well! We have poster formats available. You can update them and print them to collect goods. Goods can be donated at our "university deposit". We collect everything at the reception in Tilburg and before we leave we fill all the gaps in the cars with donations.

A returning question in #postdisaster #housing assistance is what kind of aid makes a difference and how? We often overlook how safe people feel because of aid.

Very happy with this new article on the actual influence of #technicalassistance and #funding on #housing #safety perception in #Nepal. The article is free to download, fully #openaccess! Explore our in-depth discussion and recommendations!

Results

Have a look at this image summarizing our results. For a more in-depth discussion of the results download our open access article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221242092200125X

Acknowledgements:

I thank Aaron Opdyke for being an amazing co-author and our students for starting this journey with us. We also thank the team and partners of Catholic Relief Services: Jamie Richardson, Katherine Price, Abhishek Shrestha, Milan Mukhia, Adeel Javaid, Krishna Mohan, Emily Lobo, Loren Lockwood, Siobhan Kennedy, Minar Thapa Magar, Laura Howlett.

You can now apply for the international Minor Program in DISRUPTIVE EVENTS. This innovative transdisciplinary program provides you with a comprehensive, integrated perspective on #Resilience of societies.

The program is hosted by different academies from Avans University of Applied Sciences. These are linked to Environmental Science for Sustainable Energy & Technology, Security Studies, Public Administration, Urban Planning, Civil Engineering, Architecture, and Social Work.

We get support from great international and national partners working globally in #DisasterRiskReduction, #Migration, #ClimateChangeAdaptation.

EXPLORE OUR TWO TRACKS NOW through the link BELOW:

👇

https://www.avans.nl/international/studying/programmes/disruptive-events/exchange/introduction

Track (inter)national disaster resilience and climate change

Check out our video describing our track (inter)national disaster Resilience and Climate Change! We are very proud of the enthusiastic lecturers on our team from the Avans University of Applied Sciences.

Lecturer Sandra Keetels-Snel introduces you to environmental disasters that she discusses in her project in the minor Disruptive Events. Student Stijn Kromwijk presents his project related to the nitrogen deposition in the Loonse en Drunese Duinen. Maurits Dorlandt explains the content of the course on crisis management. Mart Verwijmeren can't wait to start working with you on climate change impact.

#pandemicresponse #disasters #climatechange #climatecrisis #sustainability #climate #technology #DRR #environmental

For more information and subscription check:

Kies op maat - Disruptive Events: (Inter)national Disaster, resilience and Climate change

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Testimonials

Our climate is rapidly changing! How can we predict, prevent and respond to natural hazards and slow-onset climate-related disasters? In our multidisciplinary study program, you learn what it takes! Discover first-hand more details about our program (Inter)national Disaster, Resilience and Climate Change Avans University of Applied Sciences!

Our students Anna Boschker, Joran de Lange and Lara Corbeau explain in a short video the content of the program and how they experienced their minor.

#climatechange #disasterriskreduction #studyineurope #minor

Track (inter)national Disaster Resilience and Migration

Curious about the content of our track (Inter)national Disaster
Resilience and Migration? Check out this video where some of our dedicated tutors tell you about their courses. Thank you Pé Lamerigts Joop de Zwart Floris Jan Donders Eefje Hendriks!

#disasterriskreduction #disaster #systemthinking #crisismanagement #migration #governance #policy #extremism #ethics #studyineurope

For more information and subscription check:

Kies op maat - Disruptive Events: (Inter)national Disaster, Resilience and Migration

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Testimonials

Events disrupt our society every day! How can you respond to disasters and migration? We offer the perfect study program for you to become an expert. Discover first-hand more details about our program (Inter)national Disaster, Resilience and Migration at Avans University of Applied Sciences!

Our students Joshua and Renate de Horde explain in a short video the content of the program and how they experienced their minor. Many thanks to our international students Laura and Elena Corpas García for making this video!

#migration#disasterriskreduction #studyineurope #minor

Disaster studies can definitely be more inclusive, but how? 🧐 We engaged with early career researchers to explore novel pathways, in two special issues Emerging voices and pathways to inclusive disaster studies.

Whole season 6 of the Disasters Deconstructed Podcast is inspired by our special issues! Sit back and relax while listening to this podcast where we explain our work in episode 1!

With co-guest editors: Collective of Early Career Researchers: Eefje Hendriks, Femke Mulder Laura Kmoch  Ricardo Fuentealba  
With editors: Emmanuel Raju  JC Gaillard
With podcast hosts: Ksenia Chmutina Jason Von Meding

I enjoy sharing my knowledge with my students and asking the right questions to help them develop their ideas. I have experience teaching at the Avans University of Applied Sciences, Eindhoven University of Technology, University of Sydney, Universitat International de Catalunya, University of La Laguna.

Avans University of Applied Science

• System thinking in disaster resilience and recovery
• Sustainable islands
• Graduation studio Borderless Engineering
• Disaster resilience in the Built Environment
• Participatory field research in migrant / refugee camps
• Experimenting with innovative technologies in post-disaster response
• Precasting global flood and typhoon risk using GIS
• Post-disaster reconstruction
• Earthquake resistant construction
• Internship and thesis supervisor
• Research methodology
• The Netherlands in 2030
• Multidisciplinary project
• First year architecture studio
• Architectural concepts
• Integrated building technology
• Innovation in the Built environment
• Communication using Indesign
• Workshop Infographics
• Remedial teaching for high school students

Eindhoven University of Technology

• International Development and Sustainability
• DIY home for refugees in the Netherlands
• Graduation studio A public building for refugees in Zaatari, Jordan
• Architecture & Technology
• Workshop Infographics

University of Sydney

• Humanitarian Engineering

International University of Catalonia

• Seminar assessing knowledge adoption in post-disaster reconstruction

University of La Laguna

• German language for hospitality and tourism

For more details about these teaching activities check out this collection of posts!

Teaching - Build Back Safer

Research team aiming to build back safer after disasters, showing cases from the Philippines and Nepal. The study analyses the adoption of hazard-resistant construction knowledge. Teaching activities related to disaster risk reduction, disaster Resilience, international development, and migration.

Build Back SaferEefje Hendriks

For all researchers interested in exploring innovation in Humanitarian Shelter and Settlements Assistance, download your free copy with Roadmaps for Research. The 18 chapters featured in the publication are a result of a collaboration of 75 researchers and practitioners from over 40 organizations.

Like editor Kate Murphy highlighted: "If you can write words in the right order, you can nudge the world a bit". We hope we can make a global impact with this publication, steering research methodologies.

https://www.interaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Roadmap-for-Research_96ppi.pdf

We all hope people build back a safer house after a disaster so that they are protected in the future. Our study found that technical #humanitarianassistance is not always necessary to enhance the safety of houses. Why is that the case?

Aaron Opdyke and I compared two districts in #Nepal through an extensive structural analysis of post-earthquake housing. Seismic resistance of houses was assessed 3 years after the earthquakes. Findings from 955 houses in 25 communities show high degrees of adoption of earthquake-resistant construction knowledge in all selected communities.

We found only slight variation despite the differing levels of assistance. The least assisted is the patterned one in this image, Okhaldhunga. As you can see, both districts have been rather successful in the reconstruction of seismic resistant houses. This finding points toward the need to more closely examine the communication methods employed and motivations of households to build back safer.

It is not exactly what we expected! We explain and discuss the results, questioning how technical knowledge should be communicated and by whom. #DRR

Read further: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/87552930211009530

This blog post should provide you with inspiration for an interesting research project that uses architecture for a humanitarian or social cause. Check out this short list of famous examples as a starting point for your own discovery. Do I miss an important one? Let me know!

1. Shigheru Ban. He is probably the most famous humanitarian architect using his architecture knowledge in crisis areas. He developed among others low-cost cardboard shelters.

2. Alejandro Aravena. He won the Pritzker Prize with his incremental housing strategy for low-income households in Chile, Elemental.

3. NLE. This office developed the Makako floating school in Nigeria in a floating neighborhood in Lagos where students arrive by boat.

4. Anna Heringer. She developed this incredible school in Bangladesh. Explore her other projects too!

5. Francis Kéré. He also won a Pritzker prize for his important architectural contribuitions in Burkina Faso.

6. Tyin Tegnestue architects. This architecture office has some amazing projects like their Soe Ker Tie House for refugee children in Thailand. They work with local materials and communities.

Where to search for more examples? I highly recommend the books "Design like you give a damn"!

Yes! We are hosting an extra semester of disaster resilience and migration starting in February 2021! We are looking forward to creating an excellent learning experience that will help you tackle urgent societal problems! Today we presented this semester online. Check out the video below:

Disaster Risk Reduction

In the first module, you will focus on natural disasters and learn to respond, aiming to reduce the impact of natural disasters in both a developing and western context. During this module you will learn to work with innovative tools and design, test and evaluate solutions in real life cases.

Migration, policy and practice

The second module around migration contains multiple courses that enable you to understand the complexity of migration issues that we are facing in Europe. This program includes a study trip to Bosnia to study the impact of the civil war and the current migration influx.

More information

Read more and subscribe on Kies op maat. Or have a look at the flyer. Follow us on facebook or Instagram or Linkedin.

In february 2021 we start again a new batch of graduation students to join our studio. Most of our students graduate in collaboration with a humanitarian organisation within our network on topics such as informality, urbanisation, disaster resilience, circularity in low-income communities. The studio is primarily for Dutch bachelor students but we invite international students to join our studio and share their ideas. Together we can acheive better solutions! Use your graduation to contibute in a meaningful way! You can follow us on Facebook.

Borderless Engineering introductie

Met jouw opleiding kan je echt een verschil voor een betere wereld! In dit atelier richten we ons op belangrijke en urgente problemen waarin de bebouwde omgeving een belangrijke rol speelt. ​​​​​​​Er zijn gebieden die geteisterd worden door rampen, urbanisatie, toenemende conflicten en migratie…

MyMedia - Avans Hogeschool

Met jouw opleiding kan je echt een verschil voor een betere wereld! In dit atelier richten we ons op belangrijke en urgente problemen waarin de bebouwde omgeving een belangrijke rol speelt.   Er zijn gebieden die geteisterd worden door rampen, urbanisatie, toenemende conflicten en migratie, opwarming van de aarde, de stijgende zeespiegel en het tekort aan drinkwater. Het zijn met name problemen waar de allerarmsten dagelijks mee te maken hebben.Wij willen ons daar graag voor inzetten en hard voor maken. Jij kan dat ook! Zet je tijdens je afstudeeronderzoek in voor grensoverschrijdende vraagstukken!   Ben jij geinteresseerd in huisvesting voor de allerarmsten, zoals in sloppenwijken, vluchtelingenkampen of ontwikkelingslanden? Wil jij nadenken over orkaan of aardbeving bestendig bouwen? Zou je graag een gebouw ontwerpen in een ander land met een ander klimaat en ander materialen?

Heb je behoefte aan een voorbeeld? Eerdere afstudeerders hebben zich gericht op het bouwen in snel groeiende sloppenwijken van Jakarta die ieder jaar overstromen door de stijgende zeewaterspiegel, het gebruik van lokale materialen en technieken om de impact van orkanen te beperken in de Filipijnen, het gebruik van natuurlijke ventilatie en koeling in Aruba, aardbevingbestendig bouwen in bijvoorbeeld Nepal, het ontwikkelen van noodhospitalen met Artsen zonder Grenzen, het verbeteren van shelters voor noodhuisvesting van vluchtelingen in Nederland of aan de grenzen van Europa, slimme drinkwatervoorziening op het eiland Lombok, het investeren in rurale gemeenschappen om urbanisatie tegen te gaan in Kenya, het onderzoeken van participatie in projecten voor bamboe huizen en scholen in Maleisie of Ecuador. Pas jij in dit rijtje?

In dit atelier wordt je begeleid door Michiel Smits en Eefje Hendriks. Kom naar de kennismakingsbijeenkomst met jouw idee! Wij helpen je graag om een uitdagend afstudeeronderzoek te formuleren. We laten je tijdens deze sessie wat voorbeelden zien van eerdere afstudeerders en vertellen je over het netwerk dat we hebben met veel humanitaire organisaties en universiteiten waarmee jij kan samenwerken.

The construction sector is often perceived more conservative than than other sectors. The Cobouw magazine, a prominent construction magazine in the Netherlands, invited me to share my insights from reconstruction in the Philippines and Nepal. I tried to translate my lessons learned to Dutch construction professionals together with journalist Yvonne Ton (photo by Dolf Cantrijn).

As an architect I know how great it is to make construction manuals and 3D images. However, I stress that these are often not very useful in low-income communities. These abstract drawings are difficult to understand and do not acknowledge local construction practices.

Read further in this article:

Cobouw

How can we help people affected by natural hazards to build back safer housing? In this video I explain my PhD research in only 10 minutes.

Download the full report

Articles published as part of the full report:

• Hendriks, E., Luyten, L., & Parrack, C. (2018). Knowledge exchange and adoption to enable safer post-disaster self-recovery. International Journal of Integrated Disaster Risk Management, 2(1).

• Hendriks, E., and Opdyke, A., 2020. Knowledge adoption in post-disaster housing self-recovery. Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal, 29(6), 849–864. Emerald Group Publishing Ltd.

• Hendriks, E., and Opdyke, A., 2021. Adoption of seismic-resistant techniques in reconstructed housing in the aftermath of Nepal’s 2015 Gorkha earthquake: https://doi.org/10.1177/87552930211009530. SAGE PublicationsSage UK: London, England.

• Hendriks, E., Schep, B., Van Leersum, A. (2019).  Exploring the influence of knowledge networks on the adoption of earthquake-resistant construction techniques in Nepal. In Martins (Eds.), Enhancing disaster preparedness.

• Hendriks, E., Stokmans, M. (2020). Drivers and barriers for the adoption of hazard-resistant construction knowledge in Nepal: Applying the motivation, ability, opportunity (MAO) theory. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction.

Sluitstuk | Durven bouwen op lokale kennis

Aardbeving- en orkaanbestendige woningen kunnen elk jaar miljoenen levens redden. Helaas belandt de beschikbare bouwkundige kennis vaak niet in de risicogebieden. Eefje Hendriks promoveert deze maand bij de faculteit Bouwkunde op dit probleem. Ze pleit ervoor om tijdens wederopbouw in ontwikkelingsl…

Durven bouwen op lokale kennisTom Jeltes

I was invited to share my story in the Cursor, the magazine of the TU Eindhoven. In this interview I explain (in Dutch) the importance of building upon local knowledge in the reconstruction after a disaster. In this article, I try to sketch the situation in practice and explain why people often know what is best for their own development. Read the full article below.

Call for abstracts for the special issue 'Emerging Voices and Pathways to Inclusive Disaster Studies' in the Journal Disaster Prevention and Management, edited by Emmanuel Raju and JC Gaillard. This is a special issue for Early Career Researchers in disaster studies. These new scholars are asked to reflect on the challenges the field of disaster studies faces in terms of power, prestige and (forgotten) values - and/or identify new ways forward. Experienced disaster scholars will mentor contributing authors through the writing/publication process. Researchers from non-OECD countries are especially encouraged to submit their work. Guest editors for this special issue are Femke Mulder, Eefje Hendriks, Laura Kmoch, and Ricardo Fuentealba Fuentes.

For more details see the official call: https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/journal/dpm/emerging-voices-and-pathways-inclusive-disaster-studies?fbclid=IwAR1Hw__Q-cftdZNwCV8TREd3NrbhLHyr7VHQ5YmS46JCHf-mGz2ovIGrNOM

On the 23rd of September 2020 the thesis will be publicly defended. You can attend online, check out this link. Please download the full book here.

Abstract:

Disasters triggered by natural hazards are disproportionally impacting housing in low-income countries. During the reconstruction, many affected households do not apply construction techniques that protect them from recurring hazards, such as earthquakes or hurricanes.

To reduce safety risks for affected communities, this study aims to understand what influences decision-making in housing reconstruction to develop effective humanitarian assistance. This study adapts adoption theory to compare decision making of self-recovering households with those that do receive humanitarian aid. This is a novel approach in disaster studies.

Images of natural hazards have become a normality in our daily news feeds. This raises the question of how mankind can be protected from the impact of disasters triggered by natural hazards. The impact on housing makes up for a large share of the damage costs and causalities. It is crucial that housing can withstand the forces of nature.

Humanitarian aid agencies share technical knowledge in different ways. Aid agencies lack the resources and mandate to cover the large demand for housing support, leaving the vast majority of post-disaster communities to reconstruct independently. For example, three years after typhoon Haiyan, affected communities in the Philippines showed little typhoon resistant construction knowledge. In fact, the other actors that would be expected to have such knowledge, such as the local carpentry school and governmental agencies, were also lacking such knowledge. Those that were knowledgeable did not feel responsibility to share knowledge.

Another field study in Nepal showed contrary findings. People who did not have technical assistance from humanitarian agencies actually constructed safer housing. These affected communities gained access to technical knowledge mainly through engineers that were appointed by the government. Funding was only supplied when a house was constructed following rather strict earthquake resistant guidelines. Although this seems to be a positive decision; many households were not satisfied with the end result and had plans to make adaptations in the near future. Adaptations can seriously affect the overall earthquake resistance of the reconstructed dwellings.

This study showed that humanitarian technical assistance was not essential to enhance structural safety, but significantly contributed to the understanding of households of what makes a house safer. In the long-term these households are expected to be more successful in creating satisfactory and safe designs. Results reveal both positive and negative impacts of humanitarian involvement on motivations, abilities and opportunities of affected households. To effectively address their different needs, this study recommends a method to develop targeted communication strategies.

Research has showed that people can be grouped based on these perceptions and learn from each other’s differences. The study calls for an exchange of technical knowledge on an academic and local level. Exchange should include means to embed techniques that are comprehensible to and accepted by those affected. She stresses to respect local priorities even if it does not directly lead to safer structures, and to communicate knowledge in alignment with local habits.