"... a time to tear down and a time to build."
– Ecclesiastes 3:3

Take a moment to think about your own urban environment and the physical components that make it a flourishing city. Houses and buildings are probably what first come to mind. But when you consider the very foundation of a community, you start to understand the significance of the urban landscape: roads, bridges, water systems, public sanitation, and local markets. These elements make up the infrastructure of a city or village, and their reconstruction is essential in transforming lands devastated by conflict and disaster into sustainable and thriving communities.

Water Systems

After the air we breathe, clean water is the most critical of all human needs. SFL water projects take on a variety of forms depending on the country and local need. Past projects have included emergency water distribution, water wells, community hand pumps, irrigation canals, erosion controls, and rainwater collection systems.

Sanitation

In developing countries, inadequate sanitation results in death and disease. SFL sanitation projects focus on constructing latrines and implementing refuse collection and education programs. All sanitation construction activities are complemented by community health and hygiene training which is offered to beneficiaries and local residents.

Transportation

Reconstructing roads and bridges not only makes transportation by vehicle, horse, or donkey more convenient, but also serves to reestablish physical linkages and improve access to residential areas, markets, schools, clinics, agricultural areas, and other sectors. SFL repairs primary, secondary, and tertiary roads along with rebuilding bridges, all of which reconnect communities and economies.

Local Markets

The reconstruction of the physical market place is an important step in restoring a local economy. SFL enables communities to rebuild market structures that encourage the sale of goods, increase household incomes, and provide a centralized marketplace. Structures include simple produce stalls, storage buildings, processing facilities, and public marketplaces.