World Habitat believes that everyone everywhere has the fundamental right to a safe and secure home. That is why we seek out and share the best solutions to housing problems from across the world. Each year the World Habitat Awards are presented to ten of the most outstanding and innovative housing projects from across the world. In 2018 over 200 projects and programmes entered the Awards. Tateh Lehbib is among World Habitat Awards finalists.
The refugee camps in Algeria were only ever meant to be a temporary housing solution for people displaced by erupting conflict in Western Sahara in 1975. More than 40 years after they were established, however, the camps are still home to thousands of people, many of whom have never lived anywhere else. Life in the camps is tough. Money and food are scarce and the refugees live in fragile mud houses or tents and endure harsh weather conditions.
Tateh Lehbib Barika is born there. He has become an engineer and is taking care of the people there by using plastic bottles to build houses in the desert that defy the harsh climate better than anything else. Between November 2016 and April 2017, 27 buildings were created through his initiative.
We are proud that we were able to get to know the current "finalist" already in November 2017 and curiosly stay in touch.