Reports from the Workspace of Designers Affected by Displacement

In response to the urgent need for reconstruction in Gaza, where over 60% of the built environment has been decimated and more than 2 million people forcibly displaced, the Office of Displaced Designers (ODD) has launched a project to rebuild the region. Founded by Shareen Elnaschie in 2016 on Lesvos Island, Greece, during the "European Refugee Crisis," ODD is a roving design office that aims to provide infrastructure for skill and ambition to develop and enact change.

Elizabeth Cunningham, who joined ODD in 2020 after becoming disillusioned with conventional practice in the UK and volunteering with organizations supporting displaced populations in Izmir, Turkey, is leading the initiative. The work produced during this workshop will be equivalent to one semester of study and will be accredited by An-Najah National University.

To support this project ethically and effectively, it is important to align with Palestinian-led initiatives, avoid projects that may perpetuate displacement, back humanitarian organizations delivering aid on the ground, and advocate internationally for peace and justice in Gaza. ODD is collaborating with Architects for Gaza (AFG), Global Free Unit (GFU), and Megawra Built Environment Collective (Megawra BEC) on the initiative, titled "Rebuilding Gaza: Home, Street, and Neighbourhood."

The goal is to raise €35,000 to provide full sponsorships for students, competitive honorariums for out-of-work tutors, psychosocial support, and other essential needs for up to sixty participants. £25 would sponsor a participant for a day, and £125 would sponsor a participant for one week. The results of the workshop will be shared through a publication and travelling exhibition that generates hope and secures the physical, human, and academic resources needed to continue this vital work.

For questions about sponsorship or fundraising, please contact Shareen Elnaschie at [email protected]. ODD has upcoming projects in Izmir, including an earth building workshop and a long-term construction skills program for women with refugee status. ODD is also collaborating with Homeing Project in Yerevan, Armenia, in November 2022, to explore creating a prototype design collective inspired by ODD's philosophy.

To provide meaningful support, professionals and supporters are urged to back rebuilding initiatives led by Palestinians themselves, rather than projects that may be part of colonization or dispossession efforts. Engaging with organizations advocating for ethical reconstruction, such as Architects for Gaza and the Palestine Regeneration Team, can amplify the cause. Supporting organizations such as US Boats to Gaza, part of the global Freedom Flotilla Coalition, can help provide essential resources and facilitate conditions for rebuilding.

Following updates and fundraisers shared on social media and official channels can also help spread awareness about the situation of displaced Palestinians and their needs. Advocating for international pressure on ceasefire and humanitarian access, aligned with UN principles, helps create a safer environment for rebuilding and restoration efforts to take place.

ODD's vision is to harness the power of design and design education to build inclusive and just societies by incorporating the lived experiences and perspectives of displaced and marginalized designers. Shareen Elnaschie, a trauma-informed architectural designer with international experience of working with marginalized groups, leads the organization.

Donations can be made directly through the Office of Displaced Designers' website: https://www.displaceddesigners.org/rebuild-gaza. By supporting this initiative, you can help reimagine the transformation of Gaza and ensure that recovery and reconstruction efforts are rooted in local community practices.

The urgent need for reconstruction in Gaza, where over 60% of the built environment has been destroyed, necessitates the launch of the Project to rebuild the region by the Office of Displaced Designers (ODD).
The initiative to rebuild Gaza, led by Elizabeth Cunningham of ODD, aims to provide accredited education for up to sixty participants equivalent to one semester of study.
Collaborating with Architects for Gaza (AFG), Global Free Unit (GFU), and Megawra Built Environment Collective (Megawra BEC), ODD's goal is to raise €35,000 to fund this project.
Sponsorship for a participant for a day costs £25, and £125 sponsors a participant for one week in the Gaza rebuilding project.
For questions regarding sponsorship or fundraising, contact Shareen Elnaschie at [email protected].
ODD's upcoming projects include an earth building workshop and a long-term construction skills program for women with refugee status in Izmir, and a design collective collaboration in Yerevan, Armenia.
To support the cause ethically, one should back rebuilding initiatives led by Palestinians themselves, as opposed to colonization or displacement efforts.
Engaging with organizations advocating for ethical reconstruction, such as Architects for Gaza and the Palestine Regeneration Team, can amplify the impact of rebuilding efforts.
Supporting organizations like US Boats to Gaza can provide essential resources and facilitate conditions for rebuilding in Gaza.
Following updates and fundraisers on social media and official channels helps spread awareness about the situation of displaced Palestinians and their needs.
ODD's vision encompasses harnessing the power of design and design education to create inclusive and just societies, with Shareen Elnaschie, a trauma-informed architectural designer with international experience, leading the organization. By supporting this initiative, one can help reimagine the transformation of Gaza and ensure that recovery and reconstruction efforts align with local community practices.