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Wednesday, March 2nd, 2016

IKEA to Upgrade 10,000 Refugee Family’s Tents to Modular Solar Shelters

Author:    
Source:     Good News Network
Publication Date:     Apr 13, 2015
 Link: IKEA to Upgrade 10,000 Refugee Family’s Tents to Modular Solar Shelters
Stephan:   I am leading with this story, which a reader sent me, because I was so moved by the humanity of it. No one actually seems to know how many people are living in refugee tent encampments all over the world but it runs to hundreds of thousands at least. Families and small children living in canvas tents little changed from the 19th century. Now IKEA and its designers, working with refugee organizations have come up with something new. Bravo IKEA and Better Shelters. Click through to see the little video that shows how they build these new shelters, and make a contribution.
Better Shelter housing units in Kawergosk, Iraq.

Better Shelter housing units in Kawergosk, Iraq.

IKEA-builds_Better_Shelters-for-unhcrFor years, millions of families seeking shelter from war and other turmoil have had to live in refugee tents made of little more than tarps thrown over wooden or metal frames. In some cases, this antiquated method of housing turns out to be the family’s only home for a decade or more.

Fortunately, the IKEA Foundation has teamed up with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to design the “Better Shelter,” which is safer, sturdier, easy to transport and assemble, and can house five people at a time. It boasts built-in solar panels that can charge batteries and power four hours of LED lighting at night, and can better protect its inhabitants from rain, heat, and wind for up to three years — six times longer than the lifespan of tents used in many refugee camps today.

After two years of design work and testing them with 40 refugee […]

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