Alistair Coulstock is a principal at Cundall, a sustainable engineering company operating in the built environment.
He has been involved in the Build Against the Traffick project which aims to elevate the plight of poor people in developing nations and show the next generation – the students – how they can be part of the solution.
Architecture & Design spoke to Coulstock about the Build Against the Traffick project, what he hopes to achieves with it and why post occupancy studies will ensure long-lasting change.
Can you tell A&D about the Build Against the Traffick project?
The Build Against the Traffick project is set up to build basic village houses within a set budget that improves the lives of the Chaom Trach village. The houses will be designed to incorporate passive design techniques, minimise exposure to the elements and account for smoke from open-fire cooking.
The construction industry will come together to work with University of NSW (UNSW) students to create innovative designs that meet the needs of the villagers. This will give students a real-life case study, the chance to work with those already in the construction industry, helping shape the future leaders in construction. This collaboration of the construction industry will see ideas shared, relationships built and lives changed.
RAWimpact is working on five development initiatives in various regions of Cambodia, with a focus on lifting families out of poverty through a hand-up model. Collaborative Future Cambodia is looking to support one of these initiatives by providing knowledge, innovation and funding to have a positive effect on the lives of the families of the village.
Chaom Trach is a village experiencing extreme poverty. There are seriously dilapidated houses (often sheltering families with up to nine children), no toilets and no health services. With an injection of skilled volunteering and funding, this village has a chance to lift itself out of poverty permanently.
How did you become involved in the project?
After connecting via our Cundall WA state manager, it soon became clear to Troy and I that there was a fantastic opportunity to bring together the construction industry and students to help those in poverty stricken Cambodia. Within minutes of speaking with Troy, I realised we were on to something great and the Build Against The Traffick concept was born. Since that phone call everything has been falling into place.
How did you get UNSW involved in it?
Cundall has lectured for the UNSW for several years now. We have also been involved in renewables projects overseas. For example, we helped fund our now NSW state manager Dave Collins (then graduate engineer) to join a trip to Vanuatu with UNSW students to install a rain tank and PV panels for local villagers. So after the initial conversation with Troy, I organised a meeting with Richard Corkish and Alistair Sproule of the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering at UNSW to discuss the idea. They were very keen on the idea.
Why did you decide to develop the project for Cambodia?
Troy’s history is Cambodia. He has significant experience previously working with International Children’s Care on the ground in the country. Therefore as local knowledge is key to the success of any of these types of projects, it just made sense to follow on from the good work that Troy has already done.
Have you been involved in projects like this before?
A few of our staff have been on trips like this. Most have been created by UNSW and some (as per Vanuatu) part funded by us, but none bringing all facets of the equation together in this way. This initiative is great because not only does it bring the building industry and students together, it also is playing a part in awareness of human trafficking, or slavery as I like to mention. We in the west have been so de-sensitised to the harsh realities in other countries. If we mentioned slavery it reminds us of the US in the 18th and 19th centuries. It would not be condoned in any way, yet trafficking seems somehow to reduce the impact of the reality of the situation.
This is why this project has such great potential. It created awareness of the severity of the issue, as well as addressing basic needs that we take for granted. Importantly this is a hand up model, helping people out of poverty and towards a better life. This, together with the other initiatives the RAWimpact is running, can create a lasting change.
How can the architectural and design industry help?
Cundall and RAWimpact are looking to the industry to make this concept reality. We have everything in place and are seeking financial support from organisations by way of funding, donation of tools and apparel. Key to the project’s success is funding and generous donations to be able to cover project costs.
Our forecast figures cover the costs of not only five houses but also a PV panel and battery pack for the local school, a communal kitchen, a toilet, a biogas digester for the village and water pump and filter. If we hit our targets we will need approximately 60-70 volunteers to build all this. So we require funding and people and skills in those relevant areas. The trip will be one of a lifetime for the volunteers.
I would say again that this is a hand-up model, therefore it is not just a standalone project where we build some houses and that’s the end of it. Post occupancy studies are required to ensure that the families are doing what they said they would do to help pay a portion of the moneys back. Not only that the key to this Is the contract they sign to ensure that their children will go to school. The RAWimpact team will check to ensure this happens. At the end of 12 months hopefully the best part of the designs can be adopted and used on other projects, improving housing throughout the region.
What do you hope you've achieved in five years time with the project?
Everyone involved in this project wants longevity. UNSW requires a stable electorate to be offered year-on-year. We would like to see this as being only one of many builds in various areas. We'd love to see a whole host of villages integrating the design concepts into their infrastructure, with more sustainable and more affordable housing, cleaner kitchens, better sanitation and toilet systems, fresh drinking water free from bacteria, the potential is endless.
RAWimpact is about Raising Awareness Worldwide and their values concur with our own. We'd love for this project to provide a way to engage people everywhere – from industry and students to people who can't make it over but want to get involved in a real way. With even a small movement of passionate people we can make a huge life-changing difference for some of the poorest families in the world. This will mean kids won't get wet in their beds at night during the torrential downpours in Cambodia right now. This means more funding for the family to spend on the kids going to school. This is building a hedge of protection around families who are the most vulnerable to preying traffickers. This means they are safe, secure and hopefully with greatly improved living conditions. This is truly a game-changer for them.
