Build Change.

It is a nonprofit company, founded in 2004, which goal is to reduce deaths, injuries and economic
losses caused by building collapses during earthquakes and typhoons in emerging nations. The main
point of this institution it’s not just about build, retrofit and improve buildings quality, but even to
instruct and teach the local population and professional figures (engineers, architects, homeowners
exc.) on how to build or retrofit safely and earthquake resistant structures. Moreover, another goal
is to inform the population of these vulnerable countries about their danger, especially in those
countries where people is not interested on improving their own house safety because of the lack
of money. So, Build Change, often works partnering with some economic sources, such as financing
institutions or the government itself, providing to the population the opportunity of get access to
subsidies.

Build Change has trained more than 39,380 people on earthquake-resistant design and construction
techniques, guided 74 organizations in using homeowner-driven design, created over 16,768 jobs
and provided technical assistance for almost 58,328 safer buildings, impacting an
estimated 304,440 people.

Projects.

Build Change’s project are extended worldwide, these are the involved countries:

- Current projects: Colombia, Guatemala, Haiti, Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines.

- Previous projects: Bhutan, China, Ecuador, India, Iran, Perù.

Its “modus operandi” is based on some peculiar and interesting fundamentals. This company for
each project plans to use local solutions, studying the most cost-effective ways of building an
earthquake resistant structure using materials and skills that are available through the local private
sector. Build Change takes full advantages of the best knowledges from the most trained engineers
from all over the world, with the goal of having always the best design solution for every special
case. Also, it makes sure of involve the local economy by purchasing locally available materials and
products, and training, hiring and working with the local engineers, architects, builders, universities.

What makes this institution expert in this field is that it has common bases of teaching about every
topic involved on new building or retrofitting, and direct ways of instructing. On its website, are
available some manuals about the production, with the correct choice of local raw materials, of
blocks, retrofitting rules about masonry houses and retaining walls exc.

Most interesting thing, is that for every big natural disaster that involve one emergent and
vulnerable country, this company makes a post-disaster reconnaissance in which are documented
all the damages to the buildings in order to learn better the building system and materials used and
advice on how to retrofit the same structures.

Partnerships.

Build Change is cooperating with some international engineering companies that work through
worldwide. Also is in partnership with some famous global platforms:

American Red Cross, Autodesk, Caterpillar, Hilti foundation, R.M.S. (Risk Modeling Company) exc.