EXTENDED CALL FOR APPLICATIONS!!
The Young Professionals Program of TAO-Pilipinas Inc., in collaboration with COPE Foundation in Bicol, invites Bicol-based young professionals, new graduates and 3rd-5th year college students in the fields of architecture, engineering (civil, geodetic, sanitary, mechanical, electrical) and environmental planning to participate in the 5-day YP Workshop on Social Housing tentatively re-scheduled on 21-25 January 2008 at Legazpi City, Albay. The workshop theme for this year is
“Building Sustainable Communities in the Resettlement Sites of Albay Province, Bicol.”
It has been almost a year since disaster struck in Albay, Bicol when mudflows, at the height of typhoon Reming last November 30, 2006, flowed from the slopes of Mayon volcano and buried surrounding villages, rendering thousands of families homeless and displaced. The urgent need to provide relocation for displaced families from affected villages and lahar risk areas has resulted to rapid reconstruction work in resettlement sites with less than minimum site development. The post-disaster rehabilitation work in Albay should be an opportunity to integrate the principles of sustainability in the development of resettlements sites, such as building the capacities of communities, enhancing community participation in the planning processes, and transferring the technology of disaster risk management. More than building disaster-resilient homes, housing for the resettled families should also factor in ecologically sustainable, socially equitable and culturally appropriate solutions.
This year, the annual YP workshop focuses on bringing together technical professionals, affected communities in Albay, the government and NGOs in one forum to discuss resettlement planning and design problems, issues or needs that must be addressed to improve safety, environmental and health protection and economic sustainability of the people in the resettlement sites. The workshop also aims to revive and strengthen the Bicol Young Professionals (BYP) as a volunteer technical assistance group capable of responding to poor communities’ technical needs.
The 2007 YP workshop shall be conducted in two levels: theory (lectures/training sessions, group activities) and practicum (exposure visit, 2-day stay-in community immersion). These activities are aimed at encouraging the involvement of architects, engineers and planners in community development work and in working with the poor. Community immersion areas will be in the resettlement sites at Anislag, Daraga and Taysan, Legazpi.
Application is open to all interested senior students and young professionals. Selected participants will form the membership for the Bicol Young Professionals (BYP) group, a pool of technical resource volunteers to provide technical support to the resettled communities in Albay. Workshop participants shall be selected based on the following criteria:
Level A: willingness to work w/ urban poor communities; strong inclination to go into community development work; and openness to learn and practice alternative development approaches in housing
A limited number (25 slots) of Bicol-based applicants will be selected as sponsored YP participants based on review of completed application forms and interview. Sponsorship shall cover workshop registration fees, including food and lodging. Interested NCR-based applicants will have to shoulder transportation costs to and from the workshop venues and find external sponsorship for the workshop registration fee of PhP 3,000.
Level B: high level of consciousness about housing issues; experience in working with urban poor communities; and experience in working with socialized housing projects
Level C: commitment to go into community development work
To apply, please complete the application materials and submit to:
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS PROGRAM
TAO-Pilipinas, Inc. P.O. Box 27 UP Campus, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City
or to
COPE Foundation, Inc. 107 Toledo’s Compound, Gogon Legazpi City
Should you have further inquiries, please contact:
Arch/EnP. Geraldine R. Matabang (0915-3166822)
Engr. Rosalyn-Frances O. Marcelo (0917-4477144)
YP Workshop Coordinators
tel:(63-2)926-9504 fax:(63-2)436-7301 email: yp@tao-pilipinas.org
Click here to see the outputs of past YP Workhops.
About TAO-Pilipinas, Inc.
TAO-Pilipinas is a women-led non-government organization of technical professionals in the field of architecture, planning and engineering, marine and environmental science, research and social development. In partnership with community-based organizations and development NGOs working in project areas in Metro Manila and Luzon, TAO promotes participatory community planning, design and development processes, supports and encourages community-based initiatives to facilitate sustainable implementation, maintenance and development of human settlements-related projects. (More of TAO's projects on www.tao-pilipinas.org)
About COPE Foundation, Inc.
COPE Foundation is a non-government organization involved in urban poor community organizing and advocacy work in the Bicol Region. Its work is directed towards enhancing people's participation in governance and social transformation, through projects that address issues of land tenure security, social housing, livelihood and provision of basic social services in urban poor communities. COPE has been actively involved in the recovery program of Albay province in the aftermath of the disaster caused by Typhoon "Reming" last November 30, 2006 through relief and reconstruction projects, including psycho-social, livelihood, and housing assistance for displaced families.