This document discusses how conventional relief systems turn disaster survivors into refugees by excluding them from the disaster response and recovery process and treating them as helpless. It argues that disasters destroy infrastructure but not social structures, and that survivors know their communities best. It promotes a model where survivors take action and accountability by self-organizing, and where NGOs and aid enable local economic recovery through markets that empower entrepreneurs and compensate local volunteers. The goal is disaster recovery with dignity and sustainability by generating wealth and opportunities for survivors.

1. POWER OF COMMUNITIES
BY ROBIN LOW

2. DISASTERS DON’T CREATE REFUGEES,
THEY CREATE SURVIVORS.

3. IT IS THE CONVENTIONAL RELIEF
SYSTEM THAT TURNS SURVIVORS
INTO REFUGEES.

4. WHO ARE THE DISASTER
SURVIVORS?

5. DISASTERS DESTROY THE PHYSICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT THE SOCIAL
STRUCTURE REMAINS

6. DISPLACEMENT OF LOCAL CAPACITY
IN DISASTER RESPONSE

7. EXCLUSION OF LOCALS
IN DISASTER RECOVERY

8. ARE SURVIVORS HELPLESS OR ARE THEY TOO
STUPID TO MAKE DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES?

9. WHO KNOWS THE GROUND
BETTER? FOREIGNERS OR LOCALS?

10. SO WHY ARE THEY STILL TREATED
LIKE REFUGEES?

11. IT JUST TAKES SURVIVORS TO TAKE
ACTION & ACCOUNTABILITY

12. EVERYONE CAN PLAY A PART

13. NGOS AND AID WILL NOT HELP
ECONOMIC RECOVERY

14. IS THERE STILL AID SITTING IN THE
CUSTOMS?

15. DOES COMPLAINING GET
ANYTHING DONE?

16. CAN EVERYONE TAKE ACTIONS AND
GET STUFF DONE?

17. YOU DO NOT NEED TO DO IT ALONE

18. HUMANS CAN SELF ORGANIZE.
IT ONLY TAKES A SPARK

19. MANY OTHERS WOULD LIKE TO
SUPPORT, THEY MAY BE ONLINE

20. THE BEST TEAM IS NOT THE ONE WITH
THE BEST MEMBERS, BUT THE TEAM
THAT MAKES ITS MEMBERS BETTER
AND ENABLES THEM TO DO MORE.

21. I SEE AMAZING PEOPLE WALKING
AROUND LIKE REGULAR PEOPLE
Ms Aikawa

22. I SEE AMAZING PEOPLE WALKING
AROUND LIKE REGULAR PEOPLE

23. I SEE AMAZING PEOPLE WALKING
AROUND LIKE REGULAR PEOPLE
Dr Suda

24. I SEE AMAZING PEOPLE WALKING
AROUND LIKE REGULAR PEOPLE

25. SO HOW DO YOU BECOME A HERO

26. 1. FIND YOUR TEAM

27. 2. TAKE ACTION. LEARN BY TRYING

28. RELIEF B2B
HELPING BUSINESSES RESTART

29. MARKETS OF HOPE:
ENABLING ENTREPRENEURS
VS. CREATING REFUGEES

30. FAIR PAY FOR LOCAL VOLUNTEERS

31. A GLOBAL MARKETPLACE OF PRODUCTS
AND SERVICES FROM DISASTER AREAS
AND DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES

32. DISASTER RECOVERY WITH DIGNITY,
INCLUSION, GENERATION OF WEALTH
AND OPPORTUNITIES

33. FROM DONATIONS TO PURCHASES,
FROM BEGGARS TO MERCHANTS,
FROM ONE TIME TO SUSTAINABILITY

34. LOCAL INNOVATION AND
GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Your very own competitive advantage

35. WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT,
MAKES US BETTER

36. JOIN US TO IMPACT PEOPLE’S LIVES AND
TOGETHER WE CAN CHANGE THE
WORLD

37. Robin Low
robin@doing.gd
www.relief20.com