With your support and donations of $24,796, the Rebuilding Alliance in collaboration with the locals and experts, helped the village of Al Aqaba assert its right to plan and build by holding a design charrette in 2011.

We all love a story of courage and determination in the face of most adverse conditions. Al Aqaba design charrette booklet tells a similar story and much more, of pooling of ideas, resources, and efforts.

Al Aqaba, a village in the Jordan Valley near Tubas, West Bank Area C, located near two Israeli military training camps, faces the risk of demolition by Israel. Israeli authorities ordered the demolition of 97% of the village under the pretext of illegal structures.

The Palestinian villagers did not want to give up on their land. After having their master-zoning plan rejected thrice, the Mayor of Al Aqaba, Haj Sami Sadeq decided that the only forward is to assert their rights to plan and build on the land they owned.

With the help of the Rebuilding Alliance (RA), a design charrette was held in 2011, from July 23 to July 29, in Al Aqaba. It was a meet-up of local villagers, RA, experts, and goodwill from across the world. The idea was to come up with a vision that was so compelling and valuable that it is respected by all.

After having long discussions on the viability of the design, working in the heat of the Jordan valley often remembered as “crazy as a tourist in the Jordan Valley in the summer,” the team came up with a village plan and house designs that met the needs and desires of the people. All planning was speculative because of the threat from Israel. The Rebuilding to Remain loan program was to provide loans for construction of houses, three in the first phase, a $5000 down payment by RA, and a $15,000 mortgage. In case the houses were demolished the mortgage was to be waived off.

In many ways, Al Aqaba represents the broader Palestinian struggle and 149 villages in the West Bank Area C that are denied building permits. It is in this context that this booklet, published in English and Arabic, is so important. Donna Baranski-Walker, Founder and Executive Director of RA, suggests, “it’s a great model” for other villages. It is “a model of resilience and sustainability,” says Steve Coyle, Charrette Leader, and Co-Founder of the National Charrette Institute. 

The RA successfully completed three houses. The village granted building permits to 60 families. The villagers went ahead and constructed 23 houses themselves.

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