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3000 Volunteers Un Techo para mi Pais (UTPMP) is a Latin American non-profit organization led by stu- dents and young professionals working daily with underprivileged communities living in precarious slums. Vision A Latin America without extreme poverty, where university students are committed to confronting their countries’ challenges, and where every family has decent housing and real Mission opportunities to improve their quality of life. To improve the quality of life of families living in poverty through the joint effort of volun- teers and communities in the construction of transitional houses, the implementation of social inclusion programs and the develo- pment of sustainable communities. Through our work, we aim to denounce the precarious reality of slums in which millions of people live in Latin America and involve the general public in building a more united, just and inclusive continent. Intervention model UTPMP’s model of intervention crea- within society. Through these instan- This model consists of three phases: tes instances for university volun- ces, voices emerge to proactively de- the construction of transitional houses, teers and slum families to work to- nounce social injustices in Latin Ame- the implementation of social inclusion gether to promote social leadership rica and commit to work towards a programs and the development of solution to one of the most serious sustainable communities. The three problems of the continent. phases are designed to empower local leaders and community members to transform slums into sustainable com- munities in a process supported by lo- cal volunteers in which a commitment to eradicate poverty in Latin America is created with society. 1 Construction of transitional houses This first phase is a temporary, yet tangible solution to the indignant housing situation in precarious slums. Transitional houses are constructed through the joint effort between beneficiary families and a team of volunteers; a process which closes the gap that separates these distant demographics and bring them closer in their efforts to develop integral solutions adapted to the experience in each community. Each transitional house is approximately 193 square feet and can be constructed in two days. It is made from pre-fabricated wood panels built on top of stilts, which help to protect the home from soil humidity, floods, and disease. Beneficiary families commit to participate in the construction and to make a symbolic contribution of 10% of the cost of the house. If necessary, the house can be di- sassembled and moved. 2 Social inclusion Through this phase, Un Techo para mi País be- comes involved in slums in the mid and long term. Youth volunteers work with slum re- sidents in diagnosing community needs and presenting alternatives to solve them. Continuous work in the communities dee- pens the relationship between slum-dwellers and volunteers working collectively to achie- ve a common goal through a formal planning process and community participation. The two main tools to achieve this are (i) periodic community-organizing committee meetings in which leaders and volunteers discuss current issues, propose strategies and design action plans to reach solutions; and (ii) community assemblies, which provide a decision - making space for the entire comunity. Along with these two spaces for dialogue and de- cision making, different plans are implemented to provide solutions to community needs as identified by volunteers and community leaders. Social inclusion programs include the following plans: • Education • Skills and vocational training • Micro-credits • Legal Aid • Health • Competitive Community Funds (Fontecho) Through these plans, volunteers can profoundly identify with the dimensions of poverty and its ex- clusive nature, understand its causes, and create solutions. At the same time, community leaders participate in a continous process of empower- ment that validates their role as they become ac- tive agents in the exercise of their obligations and the demand of the protection of their rights as ci- tizens. 3 Development of sustainable communities In this phase, Un Techo para mi Pais imple- ments plans and projects that empower slums, allowing them to permanently solve their priority needs while integrating different stakeholders in the process. The scope of the- se plans provides lasting results in the com- munities where they are implemented and tackle the root structural problems in each country. Because of their complexity and sca- le, these plans require teams of professionals working together with the community leaders in their implementation. In the particular case of Chile, through the “Permanent Housing Plan,” volunteers and young professionals at UTPMP confront the structural housing issue in the country, advi- sing and accompanying slum-dwelling fami- lies in the application process to state social housing subsidies. This process includes con- sulting on the selection of land, community participation in the design of the projects, and supervision of the actual construction. The involvement of young professional and community leaders in plans of this magnitude promotes the critical evaluation of current pu- blic policies that affect the most vulnerable fa- milies, creating spaces for the proposal of im- provements and alternatives based on work in the communities. Accomplishments 400,000 volunteers mobilized More than 78,000 transitional houses constructed More than 3,000 volunteers working permanently in slums Goals 2011 Mobilize 140,000 youth volunteers Construct more than 13,000 transitional houses throughout Latin America 210 new community-organizing workgroups and 400 competitive community funds turned into improvement projects in the slums Disbursal of 3,000 microcredits for community entrepreneurs 4,500 community member graduates in skills training and 4,000 children participating in educational programs Strategic partners Our Supporters The growth of Un Techo para mi Pais as a Latin American institution is thanks in part to diverse sources of financing from the Supporting organizations private sector, international aid and contri- butions from individuals committed to the development of the region. Through the generosity of our supporters, the construction of transitional housing, Regional partnerships implementation of social inclusion pro- grams, and the development of sustainable communities can reach more families living in slums in order to fulfill the dream of en- ding with extreme poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean. States (OAS) in recognition of outstanding projects carried Awards and out in Latin America and the Caribbean to reduce poverty recognitions and inequality. • King of Spain, Human Right Prize: awarded in 2011 by • Latin American Award for Corporate and Non-Profit So- the Defensor del Pueblo and Universidad de Alcalá. Presen- cial Responsibility: presented by Foro Ecumencio Social in ted to UTPMP for its work in the defense and promotion of 2010. Its objective is to reward initiatives that improve the human rights and democratic values in Ibero-America. conditions of the community and stimulate the spirit of -so lidarity. • Housing and Urban Development South-South Trans- fer Award: presented by UN-HABITAT, Building and Social • Best Practices in Policies and Programs for Latin Ame- Housing Foundation (BSHF) and the UNDP Special Unit rica and the Caribbean: the United Nations Educational, for South-South Cooperation in 2010, this award recogni- Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the In- zes UTPMP for the mobilization of thousands of youth vo- ter-American Development Bank (IDB) recognized UTPMP lunteers and the transfer of its innovative approach to 19 as best practice in the work with and for youth in the region countries across Latin America. in 2009. • Award to Contributions to the Reduction of Inequality • UN Habitat Scroll of Honor Award, 2009: awarded by the and Poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean: awarded United Nations Human Settlements Program for UTPMP’s in 2010 by Vidanta Foundation, the Ibero-American Gene- continued contributions to work in slums. This is the most ral Secretariat (SEGIB) and the Organization of American prestigious worldwide award in this area of work. www.untechoparamipais.org ARGENTINA BRAZIL BOLIVIA CHILE COLOMBIA COSTA RICA EL SALVADOR ECUADOR GUATEMALA HAITI HONDURAS MEXICO NICARAGUA PARAGUAY PANAMA PERU DOMINICAN REPUBLIC URUGUAY VENEZUELA.
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