news: December 2023
NEwsletter 3 is out!
Read about it in Dutch or English
(just click on the images below)
English:
Dutch :
news: July 2023
Roof for Humanity on tour update
Read about it in the second newsletter!
news: April 2023
Roof for Humanity is on tour,
and our first newsletter is out!
news: October 2022
Roof for Humanity is going on tour!
from Scherpenzeel to Cape Town
Under foundation Roof for Humanity, I’ve worked abroad as an architect regularly since 2015*. Often in small villages, in countries where I know no one and am unfamiliar with the culture. Regardless, I always feel welcome in these places and quickly find myself as part the community. As one of them. Returning to the Netherlands, however, I lose that sense of connection. That in the country where I grew up and which ought to feel like my home.
The question returns each time: “what determines if you feel welcome and at home somewhere?”
Roof for Humanity is going on a journey with this question in mind. As architects and as people. How, you might think? By asking people across the globe what they need to feel welcome and at home somewhere. From Scherpenzeel in the Netherlands to Cape Town in South Africa and everywhere in between. Because…
Imagine there is a place where you can be yourself. A space where you always feel welcome.
During this journey, we will build a temporary “living room” out of bamboo together with the local inhabitants. We will invite them in to discover, together with us, what is needed to feel at home. What does a place need to create space where you can just be, exactly as you are.
Foundation Roof for Humanity believes in such a space. And we aim to build them all over the world where people feel forgotten or disenfranchised. Roof for Humanity has been building welcoming spaces for years. Community spaces for social activities and connection, but also spaces to just be.
Along with time and dedication, we need financial support to make this journey a reality. I already have a second-hand bus, which will be my storage, workshop, and home for the upcoming year. Now the rest! Bamboo, materials, tools, gas, transport, logistics etc.
Want to help Roof for Humanity on this journey?
*the I in the story is Narda Beunders, here with the Masai in Kenya, 1982
news: December 2021
singer Stef Bos meets Narda Beunders in ‘serenade van Stef’ about feeling at home
Dutch television serie of KRO-NCRV in collaboration with Kansfonds, about the theme feeling at home, the sense of belonging.
Singer and lyricist Stef Bos meets architect Narda. She will soon be leaving home and hearth. She travels the world in an Eastern European bus in search of her home. What exactly should an architect do with a bus to live in, Stef wonders.
A conversation about her ideals for a better world, for herself and for others. What song about being at home is in her story?
news: July 2020
Roof for Humanity goes to the top of the kilimanjaro together with warchild
Together with WarChild our founder, Narda Beunders, is going to the top of the Kilimanjaro. She will join the kili-challenge in January 2021. By climbing this mountain they will raise awareness and money for war children.
WarChild supports children from or in warzones to process their traumatic experiences. By singing, playing, schooling and dancing they stimulate the children’s resilience and give back the control of their lives. In this way they can start to built up a peaceful future their selves.
Narda worked the last five years as managing director and architect in many refugee camps surrounded by children who have fled war and violence. This wonderful children have touched her very much. Despite terrible events in their past and the difficult situation they have ended up in, they remain very sweet, cheerful and strong. But underneath this positive surface there is a lot of grief, impotence and very little (or non) self-confidence.
They really need guidance to deal with traumatic experiences and to get the tools for being able to build up a future step by step. Roof for Humanity is creating safe spaces where people and children feel welcome and protected. Spaces to play, educate and come together. WarChild is providing projects to guide these children to develop themselves in a very free and playful way.
We, as Roof for Humanity, think joining this kili-challenge is a great combination of visions which complement each other very well. If you want to support us, and WarChild, you can click on this link to donate.
Thank you! for your attention.
We keep you posted!
during the training period and of course during the climb to the top!
news: January 2019
Realisation of the first Klabu ClubHouse in Kalobeyei settlement, Kenya
Klabu Sport Club House at Kallobeyei settlement village 1, Kenya
After 3 months of hard work we where able to celebrate the grand opening of the very first Klabu Clubhouse in Kalobeyei village 1. Narda Beunders, architect of Roof for Humanity, worked there together with a great construction team of local, Turkana, plus other Kenyan people and refugees from different countries, to realise a wonderful Sport Club.
This place contains a lending-desk for the Klabu facilities, a library system where people can lend balls, games, goals, football shoes, cloths and other sport equipment, the managers office and a community space with entertainment stage and shadow spaces for playing indoor games.
The team had many talented people who truly all brought their own quality to this project. Together we made special elements and furniture to make this place feel like home. A real community ClubHouse where all youth feels comfortable and where people can be active together. Play games inside and play sports around it.
Our wonderful partner Klabu made it possible to create this fantastic project in Kalobeyei together with our great construction team all of local people. They connected us to local partners LWF and UNHCR, who facilitated the site, the needed permissions and other connections to make it all possible.
Asante sana!
Narda Beunders is feeling proud of the Roof for Humanity construction team
Dancing and singing, people having fun at the opening celebration
The opening Saturday 26th of January was a great day, wonderful performances, speeces and many happy visitors from Kalobeyei and surrounding.
In the first months of the Club House, up and running, led by the four local managers, trained by Klabu, it turns out to be a great success. As we can count 8.125 new Klabu sport members, the people from Kalobeyei use the Club and the sport items with great pleasure.
Many youth are playing indoor games daily, people play volleyball on the fields built by RfH’s construction team, use the fitness equipment made by one of the neighbours of the club, Andrew, fitness fan and constructor and many young people play football every day to train for the next tournaments or local competitions in Kalobeyei or Kakuma.
Community space where the youth of Kallobeyei can meet each other
The Klabu Club House is besides a SportClub a wonderful community space, where the youth of Kalobeyei meets and feels welcome to be him or herself. Open to every one, no matter what background, religion or culture, all people are welcome. If you want to join the club, you can! Even from any other country of the world. Have a look at KLABU’s website and see how you can become a supporter. You can make it possible to enable sports for everyone!
@ All pictures above made by Coco Olakunle
news: 5th of January 2018
Signing the deed at Notary Warendorf, happy moment.
Yes! it's official
Having operated under the flag of the Boat Refugee Foundation for the past 2,5 years, the time has come for Roof for Humanity to stand on its own in building safe community spaces there where it’s needed.
On the 5th of January 2018, papers were signed that officially made Roof for Humanity a foundation. We are thankful and happy to now contribute to humane conditions for people living as refugees, supervised and supported by our own managing directors and board of advice.
The focus of Roof for Humanity remains unchanged. We long to build places for people to feel welcome and protected from all weather circumstances. A place for people to gather, for children to learn and play, where activities such as workshops, lectures and film nights can be organised easily.
We build these places with the residents of the refugee camps, local people and volunteers. This is how we share our experiences, learn from each other and create a network of people who support one another. Roof for Humanity partners with local companies and organisations to get to know current needs, accurate situations and together seeking opportunities to create a sustainable project.
Near upon, we shall present to you the new foundation team.
So stay tuned!