ABSTRACT
Human beings are able to identify injustice; more important, they are able to experience the strong need to change unjust situations that seem remediable. However, reaching an ideally just situation might simply be impossible due to the existence of plural perspectives, and a decision which might seem fair to some could have a terrible impact on the lives of others. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) already make use of participatory processes with the aim of generating more appropriate programs and raising the voices of those who are normally unheard. There is a massive opportunity for design in these situations, as design-led NGOs can engage with people living in marginalisation in the development of truly innovative alternatives to alleviate their own situations of injustice. This chapter introduces a case study of the design-led Mexican NGO, Isla Urbana; specifically, how their distributed rainwater harvesting systems actualise the human right to water, even in challenging times.
