Architecture for Humanity Helps Poor Communities

Architecture for Humanity Helps Poor Communities
The nonprofit group provides free services and launched the Open Architecture Network. Transcript of radio broadcast:
06 July 2008

This is the VOA Special English Development Report.

Slums are densely populated areas of housing where people live in poverty and dirty conditions. The United Nations Population Fund estimates that by two thousand twenty, a billion and a half people will live in slums. These are among the people that a group called Architecture for Humanity wants to help.


Architecture for Humanity is a nonprofit organization based in California. The group provides free design and architectural services to poor communities.
Cameron Sinclair is the executive director. He says Architecture for Humanity has developed a network of about four thousand architects in one hundred countries. They partner with local communities to work on projects. Cameron Sinclair says a "community design" process gives everyone an equal share in the project.

Architecture for Humanity also provides money and skills training to build structures. In some cases, this training has led to separate micro businesses within communities.

Architecture for Humanity is ten years old and has built about two hundred fifty structures around the world.

The group is building schools in West Africa through a partnership with UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund. And it is working with football's governing organization, FIFA, to build sport centers in Africa before the two thousand ten World Cup.

The group also designed housing and community plans in Sri Lanka after the South Asian tsunami in two thousand four.

Structures built by the nonprofit do not require electric power.

Two years ago, Architecture for Humanity launched a Web site to make architectural plans and drawings freely available for download. The Open Architecture Network has about twelve thousand registered users and two thousand projects. Anyone can add projects and ideas to the site, openarchitecturenetwork.org.

Cameron Sinclair predicts that the Open Architecture Network will one day have enough designs to fit any environment or situation.

Architecture for Humanity has a budget this year of almost one and a half million dollars. The executive director says about ninety percent goes toward materials, labor and skills training.

And that's the VOA Special English Development Report, written by Jill Moss. A link to Architecture for Humanity can be found at voaspecialenglish.com. You can also find transcripts and MP3s of our reports, and learn about other nonprofits working in the developing world.

----------------------------Google Translate

建筑为人类，帮助贫困社区
非营利组提供免费服务，以及推出了开放式体系结构的网络。全文电台广播：
2008年7月6日

这是美国之音特别英语发展报告。

贫民窟是人口稠密的地区，房屋的人生活在贫困和肮脏的条件。联合国人口基金估计，由2000 20 ，一亿元，一个半人将居住在贫民窟。这是各国人民的一组所谓的架构，为人类希望帮助。


建筑为人类是一个非营利组织，总部设在加利福尼亚州。该集团提供免费的设计与建筑服务，给贫困的社区。
金马伦辛克莱是执行董事。他说，建筑为人类开发了网络约4000建筑师在100个国家。他们的合作伙伴与当地社区的工作项目。金马伦辛克莱说， “社区设计”的过程，让每个人都平等分享了这一项目。

建筑为人类还提供了金钱和技能培训，建立结构。在某些情况下，这一培训已导致单独的微型企业在社区内。

建筑是人类的10岁，并已建成约250结构世界各地。

该集团是兴建学校在西非洲的伙伴关系，通过与儿童基金会，联合国儿童基金。这是工作与足球的执政组织，国际足联，要建设体育中心在非洲之前， 2000 10世界杯足球赛。

该小组还设计房屋及社区计划在斯里兰卡后，南亚海啸在2000 4 。

结构由非营利不需要电力。

两年前，建筑，为人类发起了一个网站，使建筑图和图纸自由可供下载。开放式网络，拥有约1.2万注册用户和2000项目。任何人都可以添加的项目和想法，到现场， openarchitecturenetwork.org 。

金马伦辛克莱预测说，开放式体系结构的网络将一天有足够的设计，以适应任何环境或情况。

建筑为人类有一个今年的财政预算案几乎一个半月万美元。执行主任说，约90 ％ ，云对材料，劳动力和技能训练。

这是该美国之音特别英语的发展报告，写的小杰苔。链接结构为人类可以发现在voaspecialenglish.com 。您还可以找到誊本的MP3和我们的报告，并了解其他非营利组织工作在发展中世界。