In November 2017 an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 hit the Kermanshah province of Iran. Sarab-e Zehab village was 90% destroyed by the earthquake. The people affected by the earthquake complained about the relief process and the arrival of first responders. The reconstruction project of this village was based on the sustainable development indicators under the title “Village of Hope”.

Professor Sadegh Zibakalam is a political science professor at Tehran University who is famous among the people of Iran. He announced his bank account number to receive cash donations from the people. He collected 755$ in 3 days. He decided to spend this money on the reconstruction of a village using elites and experts based on sustainable development indicators. This work began with the involvement of government, university professors, and public and local partnerships. The idea was called “Hope Village”. Based on that, it was decided to build 85 residential units, of which 15 were built in the very first year.

Some measures taken in Hope Village in line with the goals of sustainable development are:

• In the Hope Village, the walls are not made of clay blocks, concrete blocks, or bricks. It is made of foam, which has less weight.
• A mechanism for the village’s water treatment plant that consumes zero electricity has been designed.
• Wastewater sludge that the plant produces during water treatment can be combined with food waste and used as agricultural fertilizer that doesn’t contain any chemicals.
• 500 solar panels to provide hot water for the family.
• About 1200 fruitful saplings have been planted in the village.
• The streets are paved instead of asphalt.
• Building a library in the village.
• Separation of waste from the source and turning wet waste into compost.

Hope Village is a pilot project to achieve the goals of sustainable development, sustainable cities, and communities in Iran.