Building Stronger Homes, Building Brighter Futures: Introducing Tukul 2.0 – Phase Two

Published on

Feb 20, 2025

In early 2024, Every Shelter unveiled Tukul 2.0, a prototype home built with sustainable materials like Interlocking Stabilized Soil Blocks (ISSB), bamboo, and palm fronds. This innovative design demonstrated how alternative building materials can tackle common housing challenges, from termite infestations to costly maintenance—all while addressing environmental concerns like deforestation and climate change.

But this was just the beginning.

A New Approach to Housing Challenges

In the Bidibidi Refugee Settlement, 75% of households reported needing home repairs within the past year, many involving roof replacements. This cycle of frequent repairs places a heavy financial burden on already struggling families. Traditional grass thatching—though commonly used—is not durable, leading to rapid decay and repeated maintenance.

That’s why we launched the second phase of Tukul 2.0: A pilot project to train skilled individuals in Bidibidi to repair or rebuild their roofs using bamboo and palm fronds.

Empowering Communities, Building Resilience

Our goal is simple but powerful: to empower communities to build more resilient and sustainable homes. We’re doing this by:

  • Training skilled individuals in roof construction and repair using bamboo and palm fronds.

  • Equipping local artisans and builders with the knowledge to become future trainers, ensuring the sustainability of these practices.

  • Collaborating with local partners, including HAS, for materials and Alight to identify households in need.


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Every Donation will impact our ability to fund the shelter depot efforts as well as train refugees to build and maintain their homes.

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Our Plan for Impact

By training community members, we’re creating local experts who can continue this work long after the pilot ends.

Our comprehensive approach includes:

  • Community Engagement: Identifying skilled participants ready to learn and rebuild.

  • Hands-on Training: Covering everything from material harvesting to roof framing, thatching, and maintenance.

  • Ongoing Monitoring and Evaluation: Tracking the performance and durability of the roofs, collecting feedback, and learning how to improve future projects.

Why It Matters

This initiative goes beyond building shelter—it’s about creating stability, dignity, and opportunity. Durable homes mean families can spend less time worrying about repairs and more time focusing on essentials like food, education, and healthcare. By choosing locally sourced, sustainable materials, we’re building stronger homes, protecting the environment, and boosting local economies.

How You Can Help

None of this would be possible without generous supporters like you. By joining us, you’re not just funding a roof—you’re investing in innovation, community empowerment, and long-term resilience.

Together, we can bring dignity to the displaced.

Every Shelter is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, EIN no. 83-2501756 headquartered in Houston, TX.

Address:

5127 Fulton St, Houston, TX 77009

© 2025 Every Shelter, Inc. All rights reserved. Every Shelter and the Every Shelter logo are trademarks of Every Shelter Inc. | PO Box 30300 Houston, TX 77249 | Every Shelter, Inc., a US 501 (c)(3) public charity, EIN 83-2501756

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Every Shelter is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, EIN no. 83-2501756 headquartered in Houston, TX.

Address:

5127 Fulton St, Houston, TX 77009

© 2025 Every Shelter, Inc. All rights reserved. Every Shelter and the Every Shelter logo are trademarks of Every Shelter Inc. | PO Box 30300 Houston, TX 77249 | Every Shelter, Inc., a US 501 (c)(3) public charity, EIN 83-2501756

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Cookies Settings

Every Shelter is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, EIN no. 83-2501756 headquartered in Houston, TX.

Address:

5127 Fulton St, Houston, TX 77009

© 2025 Every Shelter, Inc. All rights reserved. Every Shelter and the Every Shelter logo are trademarks of Every Shelter Inc. | PO Box 30300 Houston, TX 77249 | Every Shelter, Inc., a US 501 (c)(3) public charity, EIN 83-2501756

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Cookies Settings