Over 2 million persons have been displaced in Northeast, Northcentral and Northwest Nigeria due to ethno-religious violence. Bearing the brunt of the effects of this crisis are women and children. Jinkai Initiative works with the children and families negatively impacted by the clashes. They are particularly passionate about alleviating mental and emotional trauma in order to allow healthy communities to thrive and break the cycle of violence.

Jinkai Initiative is using unique and effective ways to address the needs of the persecuted and marginalized in Nigeria. In 2020, Jinkai Initiative in partnership with several other organizations launched an architecture competition to give architecture students in Nigeria the opportunity to participate in a design process that is borne out of necessity. This competition invites students to conceptualize and realize in detail, a structure that explores and utilizes locally sourced materials.

Participants in the competition designed modern yet simple, affordable, easily replicable, and culturally appropriate housing which can be built by low-skilled individuals using compressed earth bricks and other locally available materials. 

Jinkai’s housing model is a creative and professionally executed design solution for students in Nigeria’s Architecture schools. The students desired to connect people and places – to honour tradition, relate to the land, bring comfort, use local materials, celebrate culture, investigate the future, and create a ‘home’ above the shelter.

Ultimately, the goal is to reduce the effects of psychological and physical trauma through the provision of one of the most basic human needs – shelter. Relative peace is returning to the area. This is allowing for the return and resettlement of the internally displaced persons (IDPs).