The deadline for applications for the workshop in August has been extended to June 1st 2013.

As part of the work by our Ecuadorian partners and to follow-up the results of the workshop in August, we are making available 3 internships for international participants that wish to stay and work in Quito after the workshop. The internships will have a duration of min. 3 months and max. 6 months and will be undertaken with two research institutions and one government organisation, assisting in research, fieldwork and project development for the communities of Los Pinos and Atucucho.

Click here for more information and to apply>>

ASF-UK is putting together a team to participate in this years Roots Architecture at Womad festival and are looking for enthusiastic and open minded young architects and design professionals. The experience begins with a 5 day live project in which we will design and build a space to be used as part of Womad. Over the festival weekend we will then run a series of interactive workshops exploring some of the themes with which ASF-UK are concerned. On top of all of this there is the back drop of one of the UK’s best festivals, across which there will be plenty of time to kick back and enjoy the staggering array of world music on display.

Cost: £100 – includes festival ticket, food, all workshop materials, private camping with showers + more
When: 19th-29th July
Where: WOMAD Festival – Charlton park, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, SN16 9DG
How: For more information or to apply email Ben Powell at b.powell@asf-uk.org with a short description of who you are and why you would like to be involved

If so, you can now register for Stage 2, a weekend seminar to enable participants to reflect on their knowledge from Stage 1 through case studies and facilitated discussions and interactive scenario building and role plays.

ASF-UK will host seminars twice a year – the first was in November 2012 and the next one will be in May 2013:

Title: Challenging practice: Learning in action

Date: 11-12th May 2013

Location: London, venue tbc

Price: £100 if you are working/£80 if you are a student or unemployed

Eligibility: Attendees should have read all module summaries in Stage 1 –and the core texts of at least 6 modules (50%).

Over the two days we will cover in depth the three key principles of engagement (participation, discrimination, and sustainable approaches), one built environment principle (eg. land tenure) and two project implementation tools (eg. theoretical frameworks and partnership) through participatory games, real-life scenarios and role play.

This is a great follow up for anyone who has completed Stage 1, and we encourage anyone interested in the upcoming Change by Design workshop in Equador in August 2013 to complete both Stages 1 and 2.

To secure a place on the weekend seminar please RSVP to Sarah Ernst s.ernst@asf-uk.org by 26th April 2013. Payment must be received by 1st May 2013.

Click here for more information on Challenging Practice

Recently, Ecuador has been guiding its development through the indigenous philosophy of ‘Buen Vivir’ or Good Living (sumak kawsay in Kichwa). This notion advocates for a collective well-being based on social organisation, solidarity and respect for nature. In this context of change and progressive visions, ASF-UK and two Ecuadorian grassroots organisations are teaming up to explore new spatial imaginations for the Buen Vivir Neighbourhood, building on action-research tools and design tactics at the house, neighbourhood and city scale developed in previous workshops in Brazil & Kenya.

The first part of the workshop will engage with the community of Los Pinos, a recent occupation that is in the process of developing an upgrading plan. Its population of different ethnic backgrounds and its unique location within the proximity of several natural resources, has posed the challenge of finding a balance between upgrading the built environment, addressing group differences and finding a sustainable coexistence with its natural surroundings. The workshop will use participatory design to facilitate a process of integrated slum-upgrading that can guide the development of Los Pinos for the short and long term.

The second part of the workshop will develop as a design charrette in the settlement of Atucucho, a consolidated informal settlement in Quito. Atucucho has been the pioneer of complex participatory strategies, including the first Neighbourhood Government Structure (GBN) in Quito and a Community Development Bank managed and owned by the residents. This charrette will use the Change-by-Design approach to propose projects integrated with the social and economic strategies pioneered by Atucucho and based on a design brief developed in advance by the GBN, the residents and SCIBE/ASF-UK members working on the ground.

The workshop will also engage local students/professionals alongside the international participants and will host a city-wide symposium and several visits to other organised informal settlements.

Join us throughout these two weeks to explore participatory design as a relevant tool for advocacy and socio-spatial  transformation!

Where?  Quito, Ecuador

When? 10th-24th August 2013

Application deadline: 15th May 2013

To apply, contact: changebydesign@asf-uk.org

How much? £750 Includes all meals, accommodation and organised travel for 2 weeks (flights and airport pick-up not included)

Change by Design Facilitators:

Isis Nuñez Ferrera | SCIBE, ASF-UK

Alexandre Apsan Frediani | DPU – UCL

Matthew French | ASF-UK

Naomi Shinkins | ASF-UK

With the support of:

The Bartlett | Development Planning Unit – UCL

SCIBE Scarcity and Creativity in the Built Environment 

Resources on previous Change by Design workshops:

• Kenya 2011 and Brazil 2009-10

http://www.asf-uk.org/change-by-design

http://www.scribd.com/doc/75033019/Change-by-Design-Building-Communities-Through-Participatory-Design

http://www.asf-uk.org/presentations

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qa8QWNJR30k

• UN-Habitat World Urban Forum Training, Naples 2012

http://www.asf-uk.org/archives/1492

For updates on local partners and the communities we are working with, find us in Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Change-by-Design-Building-Communities-through-Participatory-Design/193970283960846

Download a poster>>

 The key info for all challenges: 

- Walk it! – 50KM or 100KM at a pace that suits you
- Run it! – 100KM ‘Ultra-Marathon’ or 50KM ‘Marathon Plus’
- Join as an Individual - and we’ll support you all the way!
- Join as a Team – support each other to the finish line!
- Fully supported with rest stops every 12.5KM
- Hot food stops provided en-route
- Pace walkers/runners, medics, physios, masseuses
- £60 (50KM) / £85 (100KM) to sign up + fundraising pledge for ASF-UK £275 (50km) and £400 (100km)
- Participant Area with training and advice resources
- Training walks to help you prepare and meet the Action Challenge team.

The Challenges:

London 2 Brighton

Sat 25th – Sun 26th May 2013

The London 2 Brighton Challenge is a tough and rewarding challenge. To walk, jog, or run the 100km from city to coast – across varied terrain, day and night – is a challenge like no other taking place over the bank holiday weekend of 25 – 26 May 2013. Some will attempt the challenge as an ultra marathon style run with an eye on the clock, many will take on the longest walk of their lives, and others will mix it up with a bit of jogging and waking.

London 2 Brighton Challenge

Thames Path Challenge 

Sat 14th – Sun 15th September 2013

Starting close to Putney Bridge the Thames Path Challenge is an epic endurance walk or ultra-marathon run against the clock following the unique Thames Path National Trail; beautiful scenery, steeped in history, one exceptional challenge.

Take on the ultimate Thames Path Challenge

100km – Putney to Henley, a tough endurance walk within 24 hours or ultra-marathon run in under 15hrs.

50km – a daytime walk Putney to Runnymede or Runnymede to Henley. Or an overnight walk from Runnymede to Henley. With ‘Marathon Plus’ runs available for both sections in under 7hrs.

Thames Path Challenge

Trans Pennine Challenge*

Sat 22nd – Sunday 23rd June

(*FOR THE TRANS PENNINE CHALLENGE, REGISTER BEFORE 31st MARCH AND GET 50% OFF REGISTRATION FEES)

Set in the magnificent backdrop of the Peak District, it will be a journey that you’ll never forget. Whether you walk it or run it, tackle 100KM or 50KM – you could be one of 1500 making a difference! Testing stamina, fitness and endurance, this challenge is fully inclusive and you will be supported all the way.

Attempt the ultimate 100km route to Sheffield, a tough endurance walk within 24 hours or an Ultra Marathon run in under 15hrs.  Or take on the 50KM ‘Marathon Plus’ distance from Manchester to Penistone, as either a walk or run!

Trans Pennine Challenge

If you missed the Pecha Kucha talks or just want a refresher, you can watch them all on line here:

Stephanie  Butcher

Anthony Powis

Sarah Ernst

Naomi Shinkins

Melissa Kinnear

Isis Nunez Ferrera

Caroline Dewast

Andy Edwards

Amanda Walker

Ben Powell

Alex Towler

A big thanks to Benjamin Powell for recording the event and making the films

Adam talked about the many initiatives that M&S are implementing to try to make M&S the most sustainable ‘supermarket’ in the UK. He talked about their Plan A (http://plana.marksandspencer.com/?extid=ps_ggl_Plan%20A_Plan%20A%20Brand&kwid=13095070543_Google+Adwords) and how they had originally thought that the plan would cost them money but ended up saving M&S £105 million. The most interesting of the initiatives he spoke about was Shwopping (http://www.marksandspencer.com/Shwop/b/1672188031) which is a partnership with Oxfam – worth checking out.

Tamsin talked about the first truly online trade events where around 160 sustainable and ethical fashion buyers, sellers and designers get together in a virtual space – described as an interactive Radio 4!!! The Ethical Fashion Form through the development of technology is really enabling a space for truly global and fair ethical fashion design, trading and retail.

Francine was excited about the opportunities of making inaccessible data available in a more visual and interesting way. She discussed the work that they had been doing for the NHS and how the mountains of information that they had gathered has been made into maps that are helping GPs around the UK make more strategic decisions about the drugs they subscribe saving millions of pounds!

Nathan talked about how OpenIDEO was an online opportunity for people to engage with and understand 40 years of IDEO’s design process and enable creative thinking to change the world for a better place. He talked about the massive amounts of E-waste and how people are innovating new ways of collecting and fixing so that less is thrown away: an e-cycle truck + farmers market booth = a type of repair rickshaw!! This process was enabled through the online platform.

Trudy Thomson discussed how tweeting has enabled her business to grow and be more sustainable. She tweets all the time and was doing so throughout the event armed with an IPad and a wicked sense of humour. She stated that this technology was fundamental as she had absolutely no money to set up the business so being able to use a free online technology meant that she could reach a very wide audience as Bricks and Bread grew. She admits that she now doesn’t even really need a physical space to run the business and pretty much does so from home!

Paul Fletcher talked about an intelligent built environment which responds to people’s needs and wants rather than being designed as standard layouts without any understanding of people. He talked about developing a service based system rather than a product based one! His parting statement was that adapting is essential for survival.

The short talks were followed with questions and answers and really drove home the essential nature of information but also the opportunities of CSR and changing businesses to be more ethical, but also developing businesses which are ethical at the heart of their growth.

All speakers were limited to 20 seconds per slides, which proved a challenge for some to cram in all the interesting work they are doing!

The speakers presented workshops in Cameroon and Kenya, research and development in India and Palestine, public and youth engagement in the UK, development education at undergraduate level, and development training for professional architects and disaster response teams.

Watch this space for downloadable presentations.

Thanks to the Humanitarian Hub at London South Bank University for hosting this event.