Illac Diaz Rallies World Architects to Build Better Schools
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 14:55:00 05/16/2008
Filed Under: Architecture, Disasters (general), Schools
In the aftermath of a typhoon, communities take shelter in schools. But not every school is built to withstand the worst of storms and the need to make them sturdy is paramount.
Illac Diaz, founder of My Shelter Foundation, Inc. and one of 2008’s Young Global Leaders recognized by the World Economic Forum, believes rebuilding and helping communities hit by calamities is “about empowerment and using the energies of the people who are the target beneficiaries as the greatest force for their own uplifting.” He believes empowering the community involves creates “a system of sustainability and replication ability.”
Partnering with the “Be Better, Build Better Campaign,” My Shelter Foundation is launching the Millennium Schools Competition, an international design competition that aims to incite “architecture for humanity.” It is inviting architects to come together and find solutions to improve school buildings in the developing world, specifically areas that are targets for natural disasters. The competition focuses on building schools with local, but durable indigenous materials to developing countries. It also aims for a convergence between technology, disaster management and quality education.
Through the Millennium Schools competition, Diaz aims to provide long-term solutions to minimize the impact of natural disasters. This can be done through rethinking the structure of schools that also serve as refuge for families in the after-effects of a typhoon. Building disaster-resistant schools out of indigenous materials would also create a larger impact by cutting the costs of materials coming from urban centers, as well as training locals to replicate the construction, creating new jobs.
Illac Diaz is one of the Young Global Leaders selected by the World Economic Forum of 2008. In 2007, he was awarded National Winner of the DHL Young Entrepreneurs for Sustainability. In 2006 he was named one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World by JCI International, landing in People Magazine among the People of The Year.
For the Millennium Schools Competition, Diaz’s My Shelter Foundation ties up with the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP), the Private Sector Disaster Management Network and government’s National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), Department of Education and Department of Public Works and Highways.
The competition is sponsored by DHL, ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya, ABS-CBN Bayan, Holcim, Petron Fuel Hope, JCI, and Rotary Shares.
For additional information, you may visit http://www.myshelter.org and http://www.millennium-school.org. For inquiries call, Project Co-Director Jana Estrevillo at 0922-819-9319 or e-mail jestrevillo@gmail.com.
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