Since 2004, over 20,000 refugees have fled from the genocide in Darfur to the Iridimi Camp in the border of Chad, among countless other camps. Half of these refugees are children. Among the lackluster resources causing a great deal of hardship are the availability of freshwater, trained doctors, teachers, adequate shelters, and food. Given the close involvement of organizations such as the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), CARE International, and EUFOR, there has been gradual improvement. An implementation of small primary schools, solar cooking devices, and agricultural practice has given hope to the inhabitants of the Iridimi Camp.
However, there is still room for improvement, and given the unceasing growth of the camp, resources continue to wear thin and competition with the locals has become another ongoing issue. Our proposal, is more of an open-ended question. How do we build a network of communication, knowledge, innovation, and hope for the people of Iridimi, and the rest of the refugee camps? We must not limit ourselves to architectural solutions, but go even further. The issues of Water, Food, Health, Shelter, and Education call for a wide range of expertise, that with a bit of imagination and collaboration can produce extraordinary results. That is the goal of the Iridimi International Network.
