Country: Chile

Organization: UN TECHO PARA MI PAIS

Idea: UN TECHO PARA MI PAIS (A ROOF FOR MY COUNTRY) is a non lucrative civil association of young volunteers in Latin America with the mission and shared dream of working with families that suffer habitation problems in our continent and to contribute to overcome extreme poverty. We seek to improve their quality of life by working together building Minimum Modules (Emergency Modules). UTPMP works with more than 1000 volunteers a year offering the construction of minimum housing and social intervention which mainly includes a program of micro credits, technical education, health plans and judicial counselling and training of basic professions.

How do you do it: UTPMP starts the process with constructing basic housing. This is the first step of helping the habitants ýout of the woodsý and it is the base for developing closer contact to the people. After completing the construction of an emergency home and establishing a trusting relationship with the recipient family, the training and social intervention stage takes place. UTPMP offers programs which mainly include a program of micro credits, technical education, health plans and judicial counselling and training of basic professions. The third stage is the final stage, where help in finding permanent housing is given to the residents of informal settlements where our teams work.

Innovation: Although informal settlement and its results is a common phenomenon in most countries of South America so far there is no voluntary programme that unites the efforts against this problem and forms such a community as UTPMP and its companions in seven other countries of Latin America (Uruguay, Mexico, El Salvador, Argentina, Guatemala, Colombia, Peru ) . A net of young volunteerism has been established and we succeeded in transferring our concept to other countries outside Chile where it was successfully implemented. The volunteers provide feedback and fresh ideas to our institution and are an invaluable source of inspiration and creativity. Beside that they can use the experience for their curriculum.

Impact: The work of UTPMP and the activities in each one of the member countries influences the life of thousands of city dwellers. Their living conditions change, they get the chance to develop human, physical and social capital and as a result their future opportunities improve. Beside that our work has a positive impact on the role and consciousness of the young population in our continent and encourages them to become an active member of their society. The volunteers have made it obvious that even non professionals with little financial and material resources can make a big change. By the students the issue is carried to their families and friends and spread to all different sectors of society.

Ethical Action: The first international project undertaken by UTPMP was inspired by the earthquakes experienced in El Salvador in July of 2001. That year a group of youth working for Un Techo Para Chile (the initiative that inspired UTPMP) decided to do what they could to provide a roof for their Latin American neighbors in need and the first construction campaign for UTPMP was launched in the city of Cojutepeque, El Salvador, where 77 houses were built by 120 volunteers. At the same time in Peru, in the cities of Tacna and Moquegua a construction was being organized to help the victims of another earthquake, where 640 houses were built by 850 volunteers.

Replication: The main intention of our organization is transferring a concept that has proved to be successful into other countries facing the same problems as Chile. Under this purpose the transferability of our project is essential. As the past years show it is not only possible to adapt the scheme of procedure but also obtain the same successful results. In seven other countries of South America our project was implemented and has already achieved positive impact. This years multinational meeting (ýEncuentro Latino Americano UTPMPý) showed that there is a great will to participate in our objectives and share the individual experiences. This communication secures the effective exchange of ideas that are so important in the our fight against poverty.

Sustainability: In order to maintain the positive impact we need to secure ongoing investment. So far a collaboration with TV- channels, banks and other businesses could be achieved and has been the main source of funds and other support. These partner are essential in terms of liquidity, recognition and presence and make up 84% of our finances. 16 % are donated by individuals. The habitational deficit in Latin America is high and there lies a lot of work ahead.

Position in the Ethics Mosaic of Solutions:

Factor: Individualism

Principle: Developing self-awareness and interconnectedness