Global Design Interventions to Benefit Refugee Children

Violence, economic stress and climate change impact communities in unprecedented ways, causing mass migration resulting in ad-hoc emergency interventions supporting thousands of displaced persons. Refugees exceed 25.9 million worldwide not including internally displaced people, surpassing anything witnessed since WWII. Humanitarian organizations have developed effective responses to basic human needs: water, shelter, food, healthcare, but communities are defined by much more than these.

Can designers effectively contribute during international humanitarian crises? Would community design for children of all ages effectively address a real need? What would scalable replicable models entail?

The goal of the joint BSA and BSLA’s Global Design Initiative moves beyond physiological needs toward building community and belongingness through the development of public spaces, particularly in support of children’s healthy development. Our road map addresses communal public space and its influence on psychological health, healing, play and laughter. Our panel session discusses lessons learned and the path forward.