09 February 2015 – The Philippine Consulate General in Macau and Architecture Sans Frontières - Macau (ASF-M) have joined together in a project to rebuild some school buildings in Roxas City, Capiz which were damaged by Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan in 2013.  ASF-M was founded by several of Macau’s most prominent architects and professionals and the initiative to reconstruct community infrastructure in areas affected by Typhoon Yolanda is the group’s pioneer project in the Philippines.

The project has created awareness among members of Macau’s civil society and has generated multi-sectoral support. Cooperating with ASF-M in its objective to reconstruct schools in the Yolanda-affected communities are the University of St. Joseph, Macau Rotary Central, Macau’s Catholic community as well as several local and international schools.

Last year, ASF-M carried out an assessment mission and visited seven schools in Roxas City to identify the most urgent needs. The group’s observations and recommendations were shared with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) in the Philippines as well as Shelter Cluster, a mechanism convened by the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support people affected by natural disasters and conflicts.

On January 31, ASF-M conducted a two-day workshop to discuss ideal features of the classrooms and buildings that are being proposed to be built by the group in the affected areas. The “Design Bootcamp” had participants from the School of Architecture of the University of Saint Joseph who were supervised by professional architects. Philippine Consul General Lilybeth R. Deapera and other officers of the Consulate General also attended the “Design Bootcamp”. END