Could CIOB help members build solutions for global disaster relief programmes?

A few years ago, the CIOB Art of Building photography competition raised money for Article 25, a UK charity that specialises in providing architectural and project management support for disaster hit areas in the world. 

We supported the charity by raising money through auctioning off selected prints from the competition to support rebuilding work in Haiti and it got me thinking; if photography can help rebuild communities which need it most, then what could happen if our membership, as leaders of industry, utilised their building expertise for such a cause?

Speaking to charities that work in this area, one of their biggest hurdles is getting the right skills to work on a reconstruction project, where money raised can be wasted on the wrong materials or the local community aren’t supported with suitable skills training.  What they are missing are construction managers.

The CIOB was founded for public benefit and to improve the built environment for society, along with being the largest body for construction management professionals in the world. So we have all the right ingredients to fill that need.

We know that our experienced CIOB members often want to give something back to the industry, to the Institute, and to wider society. We also know that those starting out their career need experience and might be able to volunteer to get it.

Volunteering is an opportunity to learn new skills, help others, experience something different and even gain confidence or inspiration, regardless of where you are in your career.

So I have a question for you as CIOB members:

If the Institute was to develop stronger partnerships in this area that gave members a clearer pathway in helping disaster relief projects, would you get involved?

It would be great to hear your views, opinions and ideas so that, together, we open up more opportunities to improve the built environment for society around the world. Get in touch with me at [email protected] and I look forward to hearing from you!