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Report First Regional UPU Conference, “ Building the Popular Urban University” Buenos Aires, 2-12 May 2006

The first regional conference of the UPU, “Building the Popular Urban University”, was brought off successfully. It was directed by leaders of working class communities, small business associations and local business leaders from Argentina, Peru and Brasil.
Based on the evaluation carried out by the participants and by the UPU trainers, the conference’s model will be revised with the aim of launching similar conferences in other areas, at an international level.

The conference was organised in partnership with FEDEVI (the Federation of Poverty-stricken Townships and Neighbourhoods), an investigative workshop (‘Exclusion – social extinction and institutional work processes – mechanisms for interdisciplinary intervention’) led by Alberto L. Bialakowsky, the Gino Germani Investigative Institute, the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Buenos Aires, the October Higher Institute (ISO) and the NGO October Foundation. The purpose of the conference was to train trainers and debate political strategy, discussing and co-ordinating key priorities for localised activity, supported by the Department of Housing and Social Policy of the Basque Government.
In order to reach the specific aims of the Educational Programme (which are; a) promote the development of skills among community leaders so they become agents of their own destiny and in the development of their local areas, b) promote the ability of community leaders to govern and make proposals, c) encourage reflection on key issues affecting the needs and aims of IAI and the community movement) the meeting, attended by 12 of our colleagues from Peru, one from Brasil and 8 from Argentina, witnessed three key moments in the formation of the foundations for the UPU:
1. Two agreements were signed for co-operation and exchange between the October Foundation and with the investigative workshop of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Buenos Aires, in the presence of the UPU co-ordinator and the highest institutional authorities, in both cases.
2. The participation of selected leaders in four workshops: Investigative co-production, Sustainable Development, Social Responsibility and Economic Solidarity, and two meetings to formulate the expectations for the Conference and to evaluate the process.
3. Fieldwork which involved trips around the “segregated urban nucleuses” of Buenos Aires and its metropolitan area (the Ejercito de los Andes, Villa 15, Villas 21-24, Villa 3, Villa 6 and Ramon Carillo neighbourhoods), bringing about a beneficial exchange between delegates and the local inhabitants.
The presence, dynamism and support of FEDEVI throughout the conference must be highlighted, how they showed an irrefutable commitment to the aims of IAI and of the UPU, in an atmosphere of solidarity, affection and fellowship with the inhabitants of the region.
Based on the evaluation carried out by the participants and by the UPU trainers, the conference’s model will be revised with the aim of launching similar conferences in other areas, at an international level.
Documentation:
Presentación Desarrollo Sustentable UPU, AIH, mayo 2006
Taller de Responsabilidad Social. Red Puentes. UPU, AIH, mayo 2006
Recuperadores informales urbanos CCOPERAT. UPU, AIH, mayo 2006
Textil e indumentaria y género. El Otro. UPU, AIH, mayo 2006
Actores Bifrontes, Bialakosky et al. 2003
Núcleos Urbanos Segregados, Bialakosky et al. 2005
Procesos sociales de exclusión-extinción, Bialakosky et al. 2004