Call for Applicants for the YP 2007 Workshop in Bicol
The Young Professionals Program of TAO-Pilipinas, Inc. in collaboration with COPE Foundation in Bicol, invites Bicol-based young professionals, new graduates and 3rd to 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 scheduled on 12-16 November 2007 at Legazpi City, Albay. The workshop theme for this year is
“Building Sustainable Communities in the Resettlement Sites of Albay Province, Bicol.”
It has almost been 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
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
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.
To apply please complete the application forms 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, Albay
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
