For millions of people around the world, “home” is not the refuge it should be. As climate change intensifies it brings stronger storms, rising waters, and sudden earthquakes, leaving families unsure whether the walls around them can withstand the next disaster. Yet even in the most fragile homes, there is determination. Rather than leaving families to face each new disaster alone, Build Change provides the training, technology, and support that make safer, future-ready homes possible. Build Change steps into that space of uncertainty and helps transform them into strength.
The organization’s story began in 2004, when earthquake engineer Dr. Elizabeth Hausler walked through communities in Asia recovering from major earthquakes. She observed a critical gap during post-disaster reconstruction: the new rebuilding methods often failed to produce disaster-resilient homes, mirroring the weaknesses in original construction. She knew there had to be a better way. That realization became the foundation for Build Change. Two decades later, the organization has helped strengthen more than 280,000 buildings and improve safety for over 1.43 million people.
What makes Build Change distinctive is not only what they build but how they approach the work. Instead of arriving with rigid plans, they start by listening. They sit with homeowners, walk through damaged structures, and learn about what was lost and what families hope to regain. This approach turns rebuilding into a shared effort rooted in dignity and agency. “Empowering people is the central piece; the house is for the people who live in it,” says Chief Executive Officer Juan Caballero as a reminder that locals must lead the process. Women, who often shoulder the responsibility of protecting and maintaining family spaces take a leadership role in this process and gain access to training, financing, and technical guidance that many systems have historically denied them.
Build Change: Reducing Disaster Risk for Vulnerable Communities | ORG In Action
By listening closely to communities and collaborating across the construction and housing systems, Build Change focuses not only on engineering solutions, but also on public policy, financing, and social systems that increase long-term resilience.
Build Change doesn’t just strengthen buildings; they strengthen confidence, dignity, and independence.This philosophy extends naturally into Build Change’s work with governments. The organization recognized early that lasting resilience must be supported by national systems, not just local projects. They invest time in building trust with public officials so that resilient construction becomes part of policy, planning, and financing.
Caballero explains, “We don’t just hand out something and then leave. We’ve taken the time to build relationships with the governments in the places we visit to establish trust and credibility to make systemic change.” Through these partnerships, retrofitting has evolved from a small idea to a national strategy in several countries. When governments integrate resilient construction into housing programs, the benefits reach every family, not only those directly served by Build Change. What begins as a community initiative can become a countrywide shift toward safety.
Technology adds another layer to this momentum. At Build Change, digital tools exist to support people rather than replace them. Artificial intelligence helps determine whether a home can be strengthened, streamlines the inspection process, and predicts how future disasters might affect housing. These insights motivate governments to act sooner and more effectively. Technology becomes a quiet partner that helps ensure no family is overlooked simply because there are not enough engineers or builders available.
Throughout every stage of their work, Build Change is guided by a simple belief: everyone deserves a safe place to call home. And when families have security, hope grows. Children can study in peace. Parents can imagine a more stable future. Entire neighborhoods begin to flourish. Resilience becomes more than a structure. Security in a home is a source of dignity and opportunity.
A safer world is not a distant dream, it is being created right now, one home at a time, one family at a time, one community at a time. With Build Change, that future is already taking shape.
To learn more or get involved, visit www.buildchange.org.
