september 1 - 4, 2015 - Asia
Transcription
september 1 - 4, 2015 - Asia
PROGRAM SEPTEMBER 1 - 4, 2015 Table of Contents WELCOME MESSAGES 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 2 ABOUT THE EVENT 3 SATELLITE EVENTS 4 GENERAL INFORMATION 5 VENUE MAP 7 OFFICIAL HOTEL INFORMATION 8 VICINITY MAP 9 INFORMATION ABOUT HONG KONG 10 PROGRAM AT A GLANCE 11 DAILY PROGRAM 12 PLENARY SPEAKERS AND MODERATORS 18 TRACK SPEAKERS AND MODERATORS 25 ABOUT HABITAT 29 Welcome messages Welcome to the fifth Asia-Pacific Housing Forum. Dear delegates, Since the inaugural event in 2007, the housing forum has brought together more than 2,000 people from 52 countries. Under the theme of ‘Building Impact’, the 2015 event will play a key role in preparing for two major global events: It is our honor to welcome you to the fifth Asia-Pacific Housing Forum. This year’s event sees the main housing forum being held in Hong Kong with satellite events taking place in Manila and New Delhi. • The adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals this month by United Nations member states. The SDGs are a new, universal set of goals, targets and indicators that the UN member states will be expected to use to frame their agendas and political policies over the next 15 years. The new goals follow, and expand on, the millennium development goals, which are due to expire at the end of this year. The locations of the housing forum provide a backdrop to the complexity and diversity of Habitat for Humanity’s work. Economic prosperity in Hong Kong offers potential for funding Habitat’s work which is much needed in populous and disaster-prone countries like India and the Philippines. • The adoption of the New Urban Agenda, which will be the agreement developed at the 2016 United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, also known as Habitat III. Habitat for Humanity has been elected to represent civil society in various meetings leading up to the Habitat III meeting to be held in Quito, Ecuador, in October 2016. Demand for housing remains particularly high in the AsiaPacific region, and with rapid urbanization, Asia will need to absorb 120,000 new residents every day into its cities. This translates into at least 20,000 housing units per day. As housing leaders worldwide, we want to lift our voices to ensure that adequate and affordable shelter remains a priority in the global discussions about sustainable development of urban areas. This housing forum will enable all participants to gather ideas and best practices about affordable and sustainable housing. What we have gleaned will be shared with development and policy experts at global events, with the goal of helping lowincome families live in affordable, decent homes in thriving communities. Thank you for joining us at the main housing forum in Hong Kong or at the satellite events in Manila and New Delhi. Together, let us move closer toward a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Specific tracks at the housing forum will focus on: • ‘Building leadership’ – profiling organizations and individuals at the forefront of the fight against substandard housing; • ‘Impacting communities’ – examining the key elements of sustainable housing solutions; • ‘Building markets’ – exploring the markets that low-income families use to meet their shelter needs and • ‘Impacting society’ – bringing advocates and volunteers together to present insights on changing housing policy and sharing ideas to raise awareness of housing as a way out of poverty. We are excited to gather under one roof leaders and experts engaged in seeking solutions to low-income housing issues that make economic and business sense. With the innovative ideas and insightful solutions shared at previous housing forums, we are confident that this year’s event will be just as productive. Thank you for your support and contribution. Yours sincerely, Best regards, Jonathan T. M. Reckford CEO, Habitat for Humanity International Rick Hathaway Vice-President, Asia-Pacific Habitat for Humanity International 1 Acknowledgements Sponsors Content Partners Media Partners Forum Partners 2 The main event in Hong Kong will feature four different tracks: ‘Building leadership’ – profiling organizations and individuals at the forefront of the fight against substandard housing; ‘Impacting communities’ – examining the key elements of sustainable housing solutions; ‘Building markets’ – exploring markets that low-income families use to meet their shelter needs, and ‘Impacting society’ – bringing advocates and volunteers together to present insights on changing housing policy and sharing ideas to raise awareness of housing as a way out of poverty. The Asia-Pacific Housing Forum is timely, coming a year ahead of Habitat III, the bi-decennial United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, which will take place in Quito, Ecuador, in October 2016. In September 2014, Habitat for Humanity signed a Memorandum of Understanding with UN-Habitat to promote housing solutions worldwide through advocacy, engagement and awareness. Habitat for Humanity has been elected to represent civil society in various meetings leading up to Habitat III, and will be among the development and policy experts from around the world in attendance at Habitat III in 2016. The event follows four tracks, allowing participants to choose sessions they are most interested in. TRACK 1: Building leadership This track will profile individuals or organizations at the forefront of the fight against substandard housing, presenting successful models of private, public and civil society sector partnerships in solving poverty issues such as health, education, clean water and sanitation, and decent shelter. TRACK 2: Impacting communities This track will examine the key elements of sustainable housing solutions – affordable, green construction technologies and methods; infrastructure for clean water, sanitation systems, roads, electricity and waste management; urban development; working with vulnerable groups; livelihood opportunities; and resilience to climate change and disasters. About the 5th Asia-Pacific Housing Forum The Asia-Pacific Housing Forum is a biennial conference organized by Habitat for Humanity. In 2015, the Housing Forum’s fifth iteration, the main event will be held 1-4 September in Hong Kong. It brings together all actors engaged in seeking solutions to low-income housing issues that make business and economic sense. For the first time, the Asia-Pacific Housing Forum will host simultaneous satellite events, taking place in India and in the Philippines. All events will be coordinated through the Housing Forum theme of ‘Building Impact’. TRACK 3: Building markets This track will explore the markets that low-income families use to meet their shelter needs and share information on how to effectively expand these markets, creating systemic and sustainable models for helping greater numbers of people improve their housing. This track will present market mapping, housing microfinance and other examples of tackling barriers in the value chain as emerging best practice in housing market development. TRACK 4: Impacting society This track brings together advocates committed to creating a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Presenting insights on current housing policy; identifying the roles civil society actors, private sector and government play in influencing housing policy; sharing ideas to draw public attention to shelter issues and raising awareness of housing as a way out of poverty, will be key topics covered in this track. 3 Satellite Events India 3-4 September – New Delhi Habitat for Humanity India believes that housing is a critical foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty. Families living in safe and decent homes see improvements in health, education, economic opportunities, security, and well-being. Partnerships are key to tackling poverty housing – pooling expertise and resources from community, private and public sectors, and non-governmental organizations, as governments alone cannot eliminate poverty housing. Objectives • • • • • ‘Housing for All’ – a call to meet India’s housing challenge by 2022 Sanitation - an ‘open defecation free India’ by 2022 Align shelter and sanitation in India to Sustainable Development Goals 6 and 11 Crystallize India’s preparation ahead of Habitat III in October 2016 Create a think-tank on shelter and sanitation – spearheaded by Habitat for Humanity India Philippines 3-4 September – Manila The thrust of the event will strongly focus on advocating for housing subsidies and put Habitat for Humanity’s mission into action of bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. The event will engage 500 participants from, but not limited to: local government units, agencies, private developers, financial institutions, technology providers, academe, and media. Habitat for Humanity Philippines plans to raise awareness of housing accessibility issues under the theme ‘Building Impact’, following four tracks: Building Leadership, Impacting Communities, Building Markets, and Impacting Society. Objectives • Turn the spotlight on advocacy for housing subsidies • Promote discussion on specific housing projects among local government units • Enable real estate developers to connect with organizations that can partner with them to fulfill their social housing requirements • Bring together financial institutions and urban poor groups to develop projects 4 General Information Date and Venue The fifth Asia-Pacific Housing Forum will be held from September 1-4, 2015, at the Harbour Grand Hotel Hong Kong, conveniently located in North Point and within walking distance from Fortress Hill MTR Station. Plenaries and track sessions will take place in the Grand Ballroom and Salon Rooms, located on the 1st and 5th floors respectively of the Harbour Grand Hotel. Registration Speakers, moderators and delegates are requested to bring an identification document with photo, such as ID card or passport, when coming to register. Participants can collect their conference packs at the ‘Registration Center’. Speakers, moderators and delegates for the Housing Forum may start claiming their conference packs from 1 September 2015 at 08.00. Registration Center Conference packs can be collected on the following dates: 1 September 08.00-17.00 outside Salon Rooms, 5th floor 2 September 08.00-17.00 outside Salon Rooms, 5th floor 2 September 17.00-20.00 outside Grand Ballroom, 1st floor 3 September 08.00-17.00 outside Grand Ballroom, 1st floor 4 September 08.00-17.00 outside Grand Ballroom, 1st floor Plenary and track sessions The Wharton-Habitat for Humanity housing finance course will be held at Salon Rooms II & III, 5th floor, of the Harbour Grand hotel on 1 and 2 September. The gala dinner, opening, plenary and closing sessions of the 5th Asia-Pacific Housing Forum will be held in the Grand Ballroom. Track sessions will be held in separate meeting rooms, distributed between the Grand Ballroom on the 1st floor and the Salon Rooms on the 5th floor. Please refer to the pack for details on the location of the session you want to attend. Delegates will be able to choose between the different track workshops that will happen simultaneously in the afternoon of September 3 and 4 (between 13.30-14.30 and 14.30-15.30). Please refer to the agenda for details on the location of the session you want to attend. Speaker Room The Speaker Room is located at Salon Room VIII, 5th floor. Opening hours are as follows: 1 September 08.00-17.00 2 September 08.00-17.00 3 September 08.00-17.00 4 September 08.00-17.00 Speakers may use this room if they need access to electric sockets to charge/use laptops or internet facilities. 5 Secretariat Room The secretariat room is located at Salon Room I, 5th floor: 1 September 08.00-17.00 2 September 08.00-17.00 3 September 08.00-17.00 4 September 08.00-17.00 Speakers who have not yet submitted their presentations for track sessions should do so at the Secretariat Room on 1 and 2 September. Media Room Members of the media may register for complimentary access to the Housing Forum. The Media Room is located at Salon Room II, 5th floor. The room is equipped with electric sockets to charge/use laptops and internet connectivity. The room is meant for the exclusive use of journalists. Only those with media badges will be allowed to register for complimentary access. The Media Room is open from 2-4 September, 08.00 to 17.00. Track Session Presentations Track speakers who have not provided the secretariat with soft copies of their presentation materials prior to the conference should proceed to the Secretariat Room located at Salon Room I, 5th floor, of the Harbour Grand Hotel, from 08.00-17.00, to upload their presentations. Presentations All presentations from track session speakers will be made available and posted on aphousingforum.org after the event. Videos of all the plenaries will be uploaded to YouTube and links sent to delegates. Dress Code Business attire is required for all activities, including the social functions. Meals Coffee breaks will be served between sessions in the morning and afternoon. These will be served by the Grand Ballroom or in Salon Rooms. Lunch will be served at the Harbour Grand Café, 3rd floor, of the hotel. Please wear your lanyard and ID badge for identification at the restaurant. For the gala dinner on 2 September, please inform staff when registering if you have any dietary restrictions. Mobile Phones Kindly turn off mobile phones or switch them to ‘silent’ mode during Forum sessions to avoid disrupting the proceedings. ‘No Smoking’ Policy Hong Kong prohibits smoking in indoor areas and a ‘no smoking’ policy is strictly enforced in all areas of the Harbour Grand Hotel. Emergency and Useful Contacts For assistance in emergencies and other urgent requirements, please contact the following numbers: Emergency services (police, fire, ambulance) 999 Police Hotline +852 2527 7177 Hong Kong International Airport +852 2181 8888 Hong Kong Tourism Board Visitor Hotline +852 2508 1234 Secretariat Contact Details (Post-Conference) Should you require more information or assistance, please get in touch with the organizers at: 5th Asia Pacific Housing Forum 17th Floor, Sun House, 181 Des Voeux Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong Tel: +852 2520 4023 / Fax: +852 2520 4020; Email: [email protected]; Website: aphousingforum.org 6 Venue Map Harbour Grand Hotel 1st floor – Grand Ballroom Section 1 Section 2 Harbour Grand Hotel 5th floor – Salon Rooms Main Entrance Corridor Secretariat Room Salon Room I Entrance Entrance Speaker Room Salon Room VIII Salon II - III Entrance Entrance Salon VI - VII Media Room Salon V 7 Official Hotel Information Harbour Grand Hong Kong 23 Oil Street, North Point, Hong Kong (MTR Fortress Hill Station, Exit A) Tel: +852 2121 2688 Fax: +852 2180 4077 Email: [email protected] Website: hongkong.harbourgrand.com Habour Plaza North Point 665 King’s Road North Point Hong Kong Tel: +852 2187 8888 Tel: +852 2187 8899 Email: [email protected] Website: harbour-plaza.com/northpoint Cosmopolitan Hotel Hong Kong 387-397 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai Tel: +852 3552 1111 Fax: +852 3552 1122 Email: [email protected] Website: cosmopolitanhotel.com.hk Cosmo Hotel Hong Kong 375-377 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai Tel: +852 3552 8388 Fax: +852 35528399 Email: [email protected] Website: cosmohotel.com.hk Empire Hotel Causeway Bay 8 Wing Hing Street Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Tel: +852 3692 2333 Fax: +852 3692 2300 E-mail: [email protected] Website: empirehotelsandresorts.com 8 Vicinity Map About Hong Kong Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People’s Republic of China. Located in southern China, it’s a place with a unique geography and history, as a result of being both Cantonese Chinese and having been under British colonization until 1997. Today, Hong Kong has become a cosmopolitan city and it’s not only a major tourist destination, but an important logistic hub in East Asia and a global financial center. Despite having a population of over seven million people, over 40 percent of Hong Kong’s land area is under environmental protection, making it possible to find pockets of wilderness. Time Zone UTC +8 hours International Dialing Code +852 9 Information about Hong Kong Climate The climate of Hong Kong can be quite different from spring to winter. The average temperature in Hong Kong is 73 degrees Fahrenheit or 23 degrees Celsius. The coolest period is from December to February, followed by warmer and more humid weather from March to May. Between June and October the weather is hot, humid and sunny, with occasional showers and thunderstorms. Average humidity is 78 percent. People Hong Kong has a population of nearly 7.2 million, and the majority of its residents are of Cantonese ancestry. Hongkongers are known for being somewhat reserved, but very friendly and polite. Hong Kong is frequently described as a place where ‘East meets West’, reflecting the culture’s mix of the territory’s Chinese roots with influences from its time as a British colony and a large expatriate community. Language Chinese and English are the official languages in Hong Kong. The local spoken language is Cantonese (different from the Mandarin spoken in most cities in Mainland China). English is both spoken and widely understood when communicating with locals. Tourist Destinations Hong Kong won’t disappoint in terms of spectacular night views, theme parks and hiking trails. On Hong Kong Island, Central is the financial heart of the city, and offers luxurious options for wining and dining. From there you can also get to the Peak Tower for stunning views and watching the sun set over Hong Kong. On Kowloon side, the areas of Mong Kok and Temple Street offer the most interesting experience for bargain shopping and a wide variety of products for souvenir-hunters (note that shopping districts can become very crowded on weekends and in the evenings). For culture lovers, museums located in the Tsim Sha Tsui district show the history, development and characteristics of Hong Kong. There are shopping malls all around the city. Cuisine Hong Kong cuisine is mainly influenced by Cantonese cuisine, non-Cantonese Chinese cuisine (from southern and central China), Japan, and Southeast Asia. Due to Hong Kong’s past as a British colony and long history of being an international city of commerce, the city also has a wide choice of western cuisine. Visitors from all over the world praise the dim sum, a style of Cantonese cuisine prepared as delicate and bite-sized or individual portions of food traditionally served in steamer baskets or on small plates. For delicious and fresh seafood, the regions of Sai Kung and Cheung Chau are famous with locals and visitors alike for an unforgettable meal. Transportation Hong Kong prides itself on having the world’s safest, most efficient and frequent public transport systems in the world. There are plenty of ways to get around Hong Kong, whether it’s by taxi, ferry, rail, bus, tram and even escalators. A convenient payment method for all modes of transportation can be found in the form of the Octopus Card, easily purchased at any MTR station and can also be used in many restaurants and convenience stores. Airport Transfers There are several transportation methods available to and from Hong Kong International Airport. Metered taxis and the MTR airport express service are the most convenient ways of transportation. To reach the area of the Harbour Grand Hong Kong Hotel, where the Asia-Pacific Housing Forum is being held, you may choose a 50-minute taxi drive, or take the express train from the airport (Airport Express) to Hong Kong Station. From there, look for the Airport Express Shuttle Bus Service - Route H2 (to Fortress Hill & Wan Chai North), which is a complimentary shuttle bus that runs every 20 minutes from Hong Kong Station to the main hotels in Hong Kong. The Harbour Grand Hotel should be the first stop. 10 TIME 07.0009.30 09.3010.30 11.0012.00 12.0013.30 13.3014.30 14.3015.30 16.0017.00 17.0018.00 18.3021.30 WhartonHabitat for Humanity housing finance course TUESDAY 1 SEPTEMBER Registration (outside Salon Rooms, 5th floor) (Salon Rooms II & III, 5th floor) Lunch (Harbour Grand Café, 3rd floor) Registration (outside Salon Rooms, 5th floor) WhartonHabitat for Humanity housing finance course (Salon Rooms II & III, 5th floor) Wharton-Habitat for Humanity housing finance course WEDNESDAY 2 SEPTEMBER Registration (outside Salon Rooms, 5th floor) (Salon Rooms II & III, 5th floor) Speaker briefing and networking – by invitation only Lunch (Harbour Grand Café, 3rd floor) Registration (outside Salon Rooms, 5th floor) (Salon Rooms II & III, 5th floor) (Salon Rooms VI & VII, 5th floor) Issue paper presentation and roundtable – by invitation only Ballroom, Sections 1 & 2, 1st floor) Cocktails and Gala Dinner (Grand THURSDAY 3 SEPTEMBER FRIDAY 4 SEPTEMBER (Grand Ballroom, 1st floor) Plenary 3: Making markets work for the poor Registration (outside Grand Ballroom, 1st floor) Registration (outside Grand Ballroom, 1st floor) (Grand Ballroom, 1st floor) Opening plenary: Housing: the key to meeting today’s challenges for better health, education and increased employment opportunities Plenary 4: How can organizations tackling poverty housing engage local volunteers? (Grand Ballroom, 1st floor) Plenary 1: Does investing in housing for the poor make economic sense? (Grand Ballroom, 1st floor) (Salon Rooms I & III, 5th floor) Lunch (Harbour Grand Café, 3rd floor) (Salon Rooms VI & VII, 5th floor) (Grand Ballroom, Section 2, 1st floor) (Grand Ballroom, 1st floor) Closing plenary: Empowering communities to move up the housing ladder (Salon Rooms II & III, 5th floor) Workshops (Grand Ballroom, Section 2, 1st floor) Lunch (Harbour Grand Café, 3rd floor) (Salon Rooms II & III, 5th floor) (Salon Rooms II & III, 5th floor) (Grand Ballroom, Section 2, 1st floor) (Grand Ballroom, Section 1, 1st floor) Workshops (Salon Rooms VI & VII, 5th floor) Workshops (Grand Ballroom, Section 2, 1st floor) Workshops c (Grand Ballroom, Section 1, 1st floor) (Grand Ballroom, Section 1, 1st floor) Plenary 2: Bringing social innovation to housing for the creation of sustainable, thriving and resilient cities (Grand Ballroom, 1st floor) 11 Daily Program Tuesday 1 September Wharton-Habitat for Humanity housing finance course Salon Rooms II & III, 5th floor 09.30 17.00 Drs. Marja Hoek-Smit, Director, International Housing Finance Program, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, United States Patrick Kelley, Senior Director, Market Development and Housing Finance, Habitat for Humanity, United States Sothany Chun, Chief Executive Officer, First Finance, Cambodia Lourdes C. Bacani, Manager, Corplan and MIS Department, National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation, Philippines Wednesday 2 September 09.30 12.00 Wharton-Habitat for Humanity housing finance course 13.30 15.30 Forum speaker briefing and networking (by invitation only) Salon Rooms II & III, 5th floor Salon Rooms II & III, 5th floor Roundtable (by invitation only) Cities are the battlegrounds for sustainable development in Asia 16.00 18.00 Salon Rooms VI & VII, 5th floor 18.30 21.00 Cocktails and Gala Dinner Grand Ballroom, Sections 1 & 2, 1st floor Thursday 3 September Opening Plenary Housing: the key to meeting today’s challenges for better health, education and increased employment opportunities 09.30 10.30 Grand Ballroom, Sections 1 & 2, 1st floor Jonathan Reckford, Chief Executive Officer, Habitat for Humanity, United States Renee Glover, former Chief Executive Officer, Atlanta Housing Authority; Chair, International Board of Directors, Habitat for Humanity, United States Moderator: Karen Davila, Anchor, ABS-CBN, Philippines FORUM TRACKS 12 BUILDING LEADERSHIP IMPACTING COMMUNITIES BUILDING MARKETS IMPACTING SOCIETY Plenary 1 Does investing in housing for the poor make economic sense? Grand Ballroom, Sections 1 & 2, 1st floor Fernando Zobel de Ayala, President and Chief Operating Officer, Ayala Corporation, Philippines 11.00 12.00 Drs. Marja Hoek-Smit, Director, International Housing Finance Program, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, United States Dr. Jonathan Woetzel, Director, McKinsey Global Institute, China Bruno Dercon, Senior Human Settlements Officer, UN-Habitat, Japan Moderator: Irantzu Serra-Lasa, Director, Housing and Human Settlements, Asia-Pacific, Habitat for Humanity, Philippines Workshops Improved living goes hand-in-hand with safe water and sanitation Grand Ballroom, Section 1, 1st floor Jude Wu, Managing Director, Conservation International Hong Kong, Hong Kong 13.30 14.30 Carlos Ani, Country Director, Water.org, Philippines Moderator: Mat Krisetya, Manager, Institutional Partnerships, Asia-Pacific, Habitat for Humanity, Philippines Analyzing market systems for low-income housing products: India, Indonesia, Philippines and Bangladesh Grand Ballroom, Section 2, 1st floor Jennifer Oomen, Associate Director, Habitat for Humanity’s Center for Innovation in Shelter and Finance, Asia-Pacific, Habitat for Humanity, Singapore Veeralakshmanan Bagavathi, Head, Inclusive Business, Sustainability, Covestro, Thailand Moderator: Greg Skowronski, Director, Market Development and Housing Finance, Asia-Pacific, Habitat for Humanity, Philippines FORUM TRACKS BUILDING LEADERSHIP IMPACTING COMMUNITIES Bringing governments and intergovernmental organizations together to support housing policy change Salon Rooms II & III, 5th floor Dr. Sujata S. Govada, Adjunct Associate Professor, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Matthias Helble, Research Fellow, Asian Development Bank Institute, Japan Moderator: Jane Katz, Director, International Affairs and Programs, Government Relations and Advocacy, Habitat for Humanity, United States BUILDING MARKETS IMPACTING SOCIETY 13 Workshops Social housing opportunities for the business sector Marketplace: showcase of sustainable building technology Grand Ballroom, Section 1, 1st floor Salon Rooms VI & VII, 5th floor Philo Alto, Founder, Asia Value Advisors, Hong Kong Ajit Pattnaik, General Manager – Corporate Sustainability, Tata Housing, India 14.30 15.30 Kirti Timmanagoudar, Head, Social Housing, Brick Eagle, India Moderator: Brenda Pérez Castro, Manager, Urban Development, Asia-Pacific, Habitat for Humanity, Philippines John Armstrong, Country Director, Habitat for Humanity Bangladesh, Bangladesh Edric Marco C. Florentino, Principal Architect - Senior Partner and Inventor, E. FLORENTINO3 + Associates, Philippines Liu Kewei, Specialist, Architecture and Construction, Department of Communications and Outreach, International Network for Bamboo and Rattan, China Sandip Poudel, Manager, Habitat Resource Center, Habitat for Humanity Nepal, Nepal What financial models have successfully increased the stock of affordable housing? Grand Ballroom, Section 2, 1st floor Rachel Freeman, Advisory Manager Asia, Financial Institutions Group, International Finance Corporation, Hong Kong Todd Mason, Regional Manager, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific, Triple Jump, Thailand Moderator: Patrick Kelley, Senior Director, Market Development and Housing Finance, Habitat for Humanity, United States Trine Angeline Sig, Managing Director, Real Relief, Denmark How can the right housing policies empower communities to withstand climate change-related disasters? Salon Rooms II & III, 5th floor Kate Landry, Director, Programs and Partnerships, Build Change, Philippines Guillaume Chantry, Project Coordinator, Development Workshop France, Vietnam Bruno Dercon, Senior Human Settlements Officer, UN-Habitat, Japan Moderator: Piper Hendricks, Director of Advocacy, Communications, Government Relations and Advocacy, Habitat for Humanity, United States Moderator: Mario Flores, Director, Field Operations, Disaster Risk Reduction and Response, Habitat for Humanity, United States FORUM TRACKS 14 BUILDING LEADERSHIP IMPACTING COMMUNITIES BUILDING MARKETS IMPACTING SOCIETY Plenary 2 Bringing social innovation to housing for the creation of sustainable, thriving and resilient cities Grand Ballroom, Sections 1 & 2, 1st floor 16.00 17.00 Daniel Lam, Managing Director, Urban Renewal Authority, Hong Kong Juan Du, Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong Bernise Ang, Co-founder and Executive Director, Zeroth Labs, Singapore Martin Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, Habitat for Humanity Australia, Australia Moderator: Prasoon Kumar, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Billion Bricks, Singapore Friday 4 September Plenary 3 Making markets work for the poor Grand Ballroom, Sections 1 & 2, 1st floor Ricky Yu, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Light Be (Social Realty) Co. Ltd, Hong Kong 09.30 10.30 Patrick Kelley, Senior Director, Market Development and Housing Finance, Habitat for Humanity, United States Rajesh Krishnan, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Brick Eagle, India Moderator: Drs. Marja Hoek-Smit, Director, International Housing Finance Program, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, United States Plenary 4 How can organizations tackling poverty housing engage local volunteers? Grand Ballroom, Sections 1 & 2, 1st floor 11.00 12.00 Mark Devadason, Head of Sustainability, Standard Chartered, Hong Kong J.P. Lee, Chairman, Agency for Volunteer Service, Hong Kong Prem Baniya, News Coordinator, News24, Nepal Moderator: Mark Andrews, Vice President, Volunteer Programs and Institutional Engagement, Habitat for Humanity, United States FORUM TRACKS BUILDING LEADERSHIP IMPACTING COMMUNITIES BUILDING MARKETS IMPACTING SOCIETY 15 Workshops Harnessing technology for housing 13.30 14.30 Building disaster resilience into affordable housing Grand Ballroom, Section 1, 1st floor Grand Ballroom, Section 2, 1st floor Liu Kewei, Specialist, Architecture and Construction, Department of Communications and Outreach, International Network for Bamboo and Rattan, China Eleanor Lam, Senior Manager (Quality and Accountability), Hong Kong Red Cross, Hong Kong Matthew Woodley, Chief Operating Officer, FRAMECAD, New Zealand Moderator: Joeri Leysen, Program Support Manager, Regional Programs, Asia-Pacific, Habitat for Humanity, Philippines FORUM TRACKS 16 Mario Flores, Director, Field Operations, Disaster Risk Reduction and Response, Habitat for Humanity, United States Moderator: Brenda Rose, Shelter and Infrastructure Specialist, World Vision International, India BUILDING LEADERSHIP IMPACTING COMMUNITIES Marketplace: showcase of leading housingrelated social innovation projects Want to successfully tackle poverty housing? First, focuson women Regula Schegg, Strategic Business Developer, Hilti Foundation, Liechtenstein Raveena Shrestha, Chief, Consumer Banking and Corporate Affairs, Mega Bank Nepal Ltd., Nepal Salon Rooms VI & VIII, 5th floor Geoff Revell, Regional Program Manager, WaterSHED, Cambodia Carlos Ani, Country Director, Water.org, Philippines Moderator: Greg Skowronski, Director, Market Development and Housing Finance, Asia-Pacific, Habitat for Humanity, Philippines BUILDING MARKETS Salon Rooms I & III, 5th floor Olivia Wong, General Manager, Leadership Development, John Swire & Sons, Hong Kong Maggie Kathewera Banda, Executive Director, Women’s Legal Resources Center, Malawi Moderator: Shenard Mazengera, Advocacy Manager, Asia-Pacific, Habitat for Humanity, Philippines IMPACTING SOCIETY Workshops Active inclusion: working with vulnerable groups to foster social protection through affordable housing Salon Rooms II & III, 5th floor Prasoon Kumar, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Billion Bricks, Singapore 14.30 15.30 Kif Nguyen, Country Director, Habitat for Humanity Cambodia, Cambodia Jorhae ‘Jorda’ Darakamon, Shelter Manager, The Border Consortium, Thailand Jessica Soto, Country Director, We Effect Philippines, Philippines Moderator: Almudena Bartayres Arcas, Associate Director, Programs (Strategy and Business Planning), Asia-Pacific, Habitat for Humanity, Philippines Reaching low-income households with affordable housing finance Grand Ballroom, Section 2, 1st floor Darlene Marie B. Berberabe, President & Chief Executive Officer, Pag-IBIG Fund, Philippines Sothany Chun, Chief Executive Officer, First Finance, Cambodia Maria Anna de Rosas-Ignacio, President and Chief Executive Officer, Kasagana-ka Development Center, Philippines Moderator: Naeem Razwani, Manager, Capital Markets, Asia-Pacific, Habitat for Humanity, Philippines Closing plenary Empowering communities to move up the housing ladder Grand Ballroom, Sections 1 & 2, 1st floor Richard Northcote, Chief Sustainability Officer, Covestro, Germany 16.00 17.00 Stanley Chan, Senior Vice President of Operations, Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation, Hong Kong Renee Glover, former Chief Executive Officer, Atlanta Housing Authority; Chair, International Board of Directors, Habitat for Humanity, United States Rick Hathaway, Vice President, Asia-Pacific, Habitat for Humanity, Philippines Shaun Koh, Co-founder, Zeroth Labs, Singapore FORUM TRACKS BUILDING LEADERSHIP IMPACTING COMMUNITIES BUILDING MARKETS IMPACTING SOCIETY 17 OPENING PLENARY Speakers and Moderators Speakers Jonathan Reckford Chief Executive Officer Habitat for Humanity, United States Jonathan T.M. Reckford leads Habitat for Humanity International, a global nonprofit housing ministry that, since 1976, has helped more than five million people construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes in more than 70 countries. Much of his previous career was spent in the corporate sector, having held executive and managerial positions at Goldman Sachs, Marriott, the Walt Disney Co., and Best Buy. Prior to his appointment as Habitat’s CEO in 2005, he was the executive pastor at Christ Presbyterian Church in Minnesota, United States. Renee Lewis Glover Chair, International Board of Directors Habitat for Humanity International, United States Renee Glover is the Chair of the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity International, having previously served on the board in various capacities for seven years. She was the president and chief executive officer of the Atlanta Housing Authority for almost 20 years, until September 2013. During her tenure, the housing authority sponsored 16 master-planned, mixed-use, mixed-income communities, in partnership with real estate developers and other investors, leveraging US$300 million of federal funds into over US$3 billion of private investment and economic impact. Moderator Karen Davila Anchor ABS-CBN, Philippines Karen Davila is an award-winning broadcast journalist with 20 years of television and radio experience. She can be seen on three live daily programs in the Philippines – interviewing newsmakers on ‘Headstart,’ a talk show that airs on the ABS-CBN News Channel, anchoring a political radio talk show in Tagalog on DZMM 630, and anchoring the late night news broadcast ‘BANDILA’ on ABS-CBN. At present, she also hosts and writes for a weekly news magazine TV show, called ‘MY PUHUNAN’, an inspiring business program that features ‘rags to riches’ stories of ordinary Filipinos becoming successful entrepreneurs. 18 PLENARY 1 Speakers Fernando Zobel de Ayala President and Chief Operating Officer Ayala Corporation, Philippines Fernando Zobel de Ayala is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Ayala Corporation, the holding company of the Ayala Group with interests in financial services, telecommunications, water, electronics, automotive, business process outsourcing and power generation. Zobel is also a member of Habitat for Humanity International’s board of directors. He co-chairs the Ayala Foundation which supports projects in education, art and culture, environment and sustainable development. He is also actively involved in other socio-civic, academic and charitable organizations. Drs. Marja Hoek-Smit Director, International Housing Finance Program Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, United States Drs. Marja Hoek-Smit’s research and consulting work focuses on housing markets and urban and housing policy, and the deepening of housing finance systems, particularly in developing and emerging market economies. She develops executive education programs in housing finance and market development both at Wharton and in emerging market countries. She has consulted with clients including the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, USAID, the United Nations and directly for governments, non-governmental organizations and private financial institutions. Dr. Jonathan Woetzel Director McKinsey Global Institute, China In his 28-year career with McKinsey Global Institute, Dr. Jonathan Woetzel has spent most of his time in China. As a director, he provides advice to clients from myriad industries, helps transform local companies into global leaders, and develops policy recommendations for government. Based in Shanghai, he leads McKinsey’s Cities Special Initiative globally, convening their work with urban authorities in over 40 geographies worldwide. Dr. Woetzel also co-chairs McKinsey’s Urban China Initiative, a not-for-profit think-tank on urban issues, with Columbia University and Tsinghua University. Bruno Dercon Senior Human Settlements Officer UN-Habitat Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Japan Bruno Dercon joined UN-Habitat in 2005 as housing policy adviser for post-tsunami reconstruction in Aceh. As Senior Human Settlements Officer, he oversees programs in China, Mongolia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal. He is the UNHabitat contact person in Asia-Pacific for the 2016 United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, also known as Habitat III, as well as the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference for Housing and Urban Development. Dercon has experience ranging from research to urban planning and urban development in the academic and corporate sectors. 19 Moderator Irantzu Serra-Lasa Director, Housing and Human Settlements, Asia-Pacific Habitat for Humanity, Philippines Irantzu Serra-Lasa has 14 years of experience in architecture, construction project management, and emergency and recovery shelter design and monitoring. She is an architect and urban planner by training, specializing in low-cost construction techniques and international development of human settlements in developing countries. Prior to joining Habitat for Humanity, she worked for the Red Cross. She has worked in disaster response, recovery and disaster risk reduction and construction programing in Senegal, Namibia, Peru, Belize, Colombia, Haiti and the Philippines. PLENARY 2 Speakers Daniel Lam Managing Director Urban Renewal Authority, Hong Kong Daniel Lam was a non-executive director of the board of Hong Kong’s Urban Renewal Authority (URA) for more than six years before he became the managing director in June 2015. A chartered building surveyor by profession, Lam leads URA in redeveloping and rehabilitating older urban areas in Hong Kong. The statutory body is committed to improving the living conditions of people in dilapidated urban areas. Its core activities also include preserving buildings with heritage value and revitalizing areas within URA’s project sites. Juan Du Associate Dean (International and Mainland China Affairs) Associate Professor, Department of Architecture Faculty of Architecture, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Juan Du has published her research and writing on emergent urbanisms of Chinese cities in publications such as the ‘Journal of Architectural Education’ and ‘Domus’ and ‘Urban China’ magazines. She is also the founding director of Hong Kong-based IDU_architecture, a research and design office with projects ranging from the extent of built forms to the social and ecological processes of the city. Du’s work has been featured in the 11th and 12th Venice Architecture Biennale, the Brazil International Exhibition of Architecture and Urbanism, and the Shenzhen Hong Kong Bi-City Biennale, among others. Bernise Ang Co-founder and Executive Director Zeroth Labs, Singapore Bernise Ang is co-founder and Executive Director of Zeroth Labs, a strategic creative studio which works with like-minded partners and communities to discover and develop innovation solutions for social impact and societal outcomes. Ang is trained in psychology and has a professional consulting background in change management. Her clients included Singapore’s Ministry of Communications and Information, TED speaker Sasa Vucinic and Singapore Airlines. She was also a recipient of the YouthActionNet Award & Fellowship in 2007. The initiative by the U.S.-headquartered International Youth Foundation recognizes 20 exceptional young social entrepreneurs around the world every year. 20 Martin Thomas Chief Executive Officer Habitat for Humanity Australia, Australia Martin Thomas comes from a journalistic background and worked with Mission Australia, World Vision and UNICEF in Australia in his non-profit career spanning over a decade. He also served overseas in housing-centered aid and development programs, and social welfare and employment services. At World Vision, Thomas led the advocacy team that spearheaded the agency’s involvement in the ‘Make Poverty History’ campaign. Since June 2014, he has been leading Habitat for Humanity Australia’s effort to deliver decent housing solutions across the Asia-Pacific region. Moderator Prasoon Kumar Founder and Chief Executive Officer Billion Bricks, Singapore Prasoon Kumar has a passion for problem-solving and creating socially-equitable and environmentally-conscious structures that play a role in poverty alleviation. He founded Billion Bricks, a non-profit organization that envisions a world where no one is homeless, and everyone has access to opportunities for improvement. It works in high growth urban areas through design, architecture and technology and has projects in India, Cambodia, Malaysia and Nepal. Kumar is an urban planner and architect by profession with over 10 years of experience in India, USA, Hong Kong and Singapore. PLENARY 3 Speakers Ricky Yu Founder and Chief Executive Officer Light Be, Hong Kong Ricky Yu had spent 20 years in the Hong Kong corporate sector before the housing conundrum spurred him to start a social enterprise, Light Be, in 2012. A year later, he launched the ‘Light Home’ scheme which allows landlords to rent affordable housing units to vulnerable groups such female-headed households. ‘Light Home’ was awarded the Hong Kong government’s Social Enterprise Award for Innovation in 2013. Yu was appointed as a member of the government’s Social Enterprise Advisory Committee in 2014. 21 Patrick Kelley Senior Director, Market Development and Housing Finance Habitat for Humanity, United States Patrick Kelley serves as Senior Director of Market Development and Housing Finance for Habitat for Humanity International’s work globally. The market development teams work to improve value chains and introduce market-based solutions that better serve the housing needs of low-income people. Important to Habitat’s approach is a two-pronged strategy of mobilizing capital and building capacity in local market actors. Prior to Habitat for Humanity, Kelley worked in Africa supporting economic development and financial sector programs, including his role as Executive Director of the largest microfinance bank in Rwanda, URWEGO, and the start-up of two microfinance institutions in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Kelley also teaches a course on Inclusive Markets at Emory University in Atlanta, United States. Rajesh Krishnan Founder and Chief Executive Officer Brick Eagle, India Rajesh Krishnan is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Brick Eagle Group, a financial services platform focused on affordable housing. Rajesh founded Brick Eagle four years ago with a vision to deliver one million affordable homes by 2030. Under his leadership, Brick Eagle has transformed from a land banking company to a group that manages more than 505 hectares of land, which when fully developed will house over 80,000 families. Rajesh started his career with Schlumberger Oilfield Services as a Drilling Services Manager. He then pursued an investment banking career with Lehman Brothers, Nomura and concluded his banking career with Standard Chartered Bank as Regional Head (South Asia), Structured Solutions Group. Moderator Drs. Marja Hoek-Smit Director, International Housing Finance Program Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, United States Drs. Marja Hoek-Smit’s research and consulting work focuses on housing markets and urban and housing policy, and the deepening of housing finance systems, particularly in developing and emerging market economies. She develops executive education programs in housing finance and market development both at Wharton and in emerging market countries. She has consulted with clients including the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, USAID, the United Nations and directly for governments, non-governmental organizations and private financial institutions. PLENARY 4 Speakers Mark Devadason Group Head of Sustainability Standard Chartered Bank, Hong Kong Throughout his 30-year career with Standard Chartered Bank, Mark Devadason has management experience in wholesale and consumer banking as well as human resources. He was also the CEO of the group in Thailand from 2008 to 2010 and in Japan from 2003 to 2007. Under his leadership, Standard Chartered Thailand was among the recipients of the 2010 Gallup Great Workplace Award. Currently based in Hong Kong, Devadason takes charge of the group’s overall sustainability agenda. 22 J.P. Lee Chairman Agency for Volunteer Service, Hong Kong J.P. Lee has served in the public service in Hong Kong for more than 40 years, working with associations such as the charitable organization Po Leung Kuk, Hong Kong Council of Social Service and Legal Aid Services Council. As chairman of the Agency for Volunteer Service, founded in 1970, he provides direction for the non-profit organization’s mission of building civil society and a caring community through the promotion and development of sustainable volunteerism. Prem Baniya News Coordinator News24 television, Nepal Television journalist Prem Baniya is the face behind popular shows such as ‘Power News’ and ‘Jaya Swabhiman’. His coverage of politics, education and health won him the title of Television Personality of the Year in 2014 and Youth Journalist Award in 2012. As a youth ambassador for Habitat for Humanity Nepal, he contributed his labor to build homes in Dang district and took part in a media conference to raise awareness of poverty housing in March 2015. Moderator Mark Andrews Vice President, Volunteer Programs and Institutional Engagement Habitat for Humanity, United States Mark Andrews is Habitat for Humanity’s vice president of volunteer programs and institutional engagement. His vast Habitat experience has run the gamut from running local US affiliate and managing country programs in Asia and the Pacific, to leading its largest corporate relationship, ‘Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity’. In this joint venture Andrews managed staff from both organizations in the design and implementation of a multifaceted US$200 million international program. In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010, Andrews led Habitat for Humanity’s Haiti recovery work for two years with 130 staff and a budget of US$200 million. CLOSING PLENARY Speakers Richard Northcote Chief Sustainability Officer Covestro, Germany Richard Northcote has nearly 20 years of experience in the chemicals industry. He joined Bayer MaterialScience in 2009 as an executive committee member with responsibility for communications, public affairs and sustainability. He is also vice president of the communications steering group at Plastics Europe and a steering committee member of the Oxford University Business Economics Programme. A former journalist, Northcote has worked in the U.K., the Middle East and Asia, on trade titles such as ‘Construction Weekly’ and ‘The Engineer’. 23 Stanley Chan Senior Vice President of Operations Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation, Hong Kong Stanley Chan, Senior Vice President of Operations of the Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited (HKMC), is responsible for the marketing, business development, and operations of HKMC. Before joining HKMC in August 2010, he was the Head of Financial Infrastructure Development Division of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), in-charge of the promotion and development of payment and securities settlement systems in Hong Kong. He joined HKMA in 1995 and has served in various areas, including reserves management, securities settlement system operation and development, bank licensing, and clearing and settlement systems oversight. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and graduated from the University of Adelaide in Australia, with a Master of Business Administration. Renee Lewis Glover Chair, International Board of Directors Habitat for Humanity International, United States Renee Glover is the Chair of the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity International, having previously served on the board in various capacities for seven years. She was the president and chief executive officer of the Atlanta Housing Authority for almost 20 years, until September 2013. During her tenure, the housing authority sponsored 16 master-planned, mixed-use, mixed-income communities, in partnership with real estate developers and other investors, leveraging US$300 million of federal funds into over US$3 billion of private investment and economic impact. Rick Hathaway Vice-President, Asia Pacific Habitat for Humanity International, Philippines Since assuming his current role in 2007, Rick Hathaway has been overseeing the success of Habitat for Humanity’s programs to provide decent, affordable housing to families in need in the Asia-Pacific region. He began as a volunteer with Habitat in the U.S. in 1985 and came to Asia in 1993, where he developed new Habitat operations in South Korea and New Zealand. Hathaway was also the project director for Habitat’s signature Carter Work Project in the Philippines in 1999 and in South Korea in 2001. Moderator Shaun Koh Co-founder Zeroth Labs, Singapore Shaun is the co-founder of Zeroth Labs, an experimental public sector innovation lab that operates at the intersect of anthropology, data, and design to tackle complex societal challenges. He works with stakeholders to understand the root cause of complex problems, grasp the wider context that surrounds them, and develop solutions that speak to the real needs of real people beneficiaries, consumers, neighbours, citizens. Shaun has worked on complex projects across Asia, including: developing a human-centered South-South Learning Toolkit for the UNDP, co-designing public services with civil servants and slum dwellers in Bangladesh, kickstarting civic innovation within an inner city neighborhood in Singapore, among others. 24 Track Speakers Philo Alto Founder Asia Value Advisors, Hong Kong Prasoon Kumar Founder and Chief Executive Officer Billion Bricks, Singapore Carlos Ani Country Director Water.org, Philippines Eleanor Lam Senior Manager (Quality & Accountability) Hong Kong Red Cross, Hong Kong John Armstrong National Director Habitat for Humanity Bangladesh, Bangladesh Kate Landry Director of Programs and Partnerships Build Change, Philippines Veeralakshmanan Bagavathi Head, Inclusive Business, Sustainability Covestro, Thailand Liu Kewei Specialist, Architecture and Construction International Network for Bamboo and Rattan, China Maggie Kathewera Banda Founder and Executive Director Women’s Legal Resources Center, Malawi Todd Mason Regional Manager, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific Triple Jump, Thailand Guillaume Chantry Project Coordinator Development Workshop France, Vietnam Kif Nguyen Country Director Habitat for Humanity Cambodia, Cambodia Sothany Chun Chief Executive Officer First Finance, Cambodia Jennifer Oomen Associate Director, Habitat for Humanity’s Center for Innovation in Shelter and Finance, Asia-Pacific Habitat for Humanity, Singapore Jorhae ‘Jorda’ Darakamon Shelter Manager The Border Consortium, Thailand Ajit Pattnaik General Manager – Corporate Sustainability Tata Housing, India Bruno Dercon Senior Human Settlements Officer UN-Habitat Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Japan Sandip Poudel Habitat Resource Center Manager Habitat for Humanity Nepal, Nepal Edric Marco C. Florentino Principal Architect - Senior Partner and Investor E. FLORENTINO3 + Associates, Philippines Maria Anna de Rosas-Ignacio President and Chief Executive Officer Kasagana-ka Development Center, Philippines Rachel Freeman Advisory Manager Asia, Financial Institutions Group International Finance Corporation, Hong Kong Geoff Revell Regional Program Manager WaterSHED, Cambodia Dr. Sujata S. Govada Adjunct Associate Professor Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Matthias Helble Research Fellow Asian Development Bank Institute, Japan Regula Schegg Strategic Business Developer Hilti Foundation, Liechtenstein Raveena Shrestha Chief, Consumer Banking and Corporate Affairs Mega Bank, Nepal 25 Trine Angeline Sig Managing Director Real Relief, Denmark Jessica Soto Country Director We Effect Philippines, Philippines Kirti Timmanagoudar Head, Social Housing Brick Eagle, India Jude Wu Managing Director Conservation International Hong Kong, Hong Kong Olivia Wong General Manager, Leadership Development John Swire & Sons, Hong Kong Matthew Woodley Chief Operating Officer FRAMECAD, New Zealand Patrick Kelley Senior Director, Market Development and Housing Finance Habitat for Humanity, United States Mat Krisetya Manager, Institutional Partnerships, Asia-Pacific Habitat for Humanity, Philippines Joeri Leysen Program Support Manager, Regional Programs, Asia-Pacific Habitat for Humanity, Philippines Shenard Mazengera Advocacy Manager, Asia-Pacific Habitat for Humanity, Philippines Naeem Razwani Manager, Capital Markets, Asia-Pacific Habitat for Humanity, Philippines Moderators Brenda Rose Shelter and Infrastructure Specialist World Vision International, India Almudena Bartayres Arcas Associate Director, Programs (Strategy & Business Planning), Asia-Pacific Habitat for Humanity, Philippines Greg Skowronski Director, Market Development and Housing Finance, Asia-Pacific Habitat for Humanity, Philippines Brenda Pérez Castro Manager, Urban Development, Asia Pacific Habitat for Humanity, Philippines Ernesto Castro-Garcia Director, Regional Programs, Asia-Pacific Habitat for Humanity, Philippines Mario Flores Director, Field Operations, Disaster Risk Reduction and Response Habitat for Humanity, United States Piper Hendricks Director of Advocacy, Communications, Government Relations and Advocacy Habitat for Humanity, United States Jane Katz Director, International Affairs and Programs, Government Relations and Advocacy Habitat for Humanity, United States 26 27 28 VIETNAM BIG BUILD 2016 Vietnam’s natural beauty and rich history have long attracted tourists in search of rest and relaxation. For Habitat for Humanity’s international volunteers, the Southeast Asian country is among the top five Global Village destinations in the Asia-Pacific region. Come October 2016, Habitat for Humanity volunteers can look forward to building homes and hope during the weeklong Vietnam Big Build. The special event will be held in Phu Tho province, about 80 kilometers from Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, in the north. Phu Tho is closely associated with the Hung kings (or “brave kings”) who established the Van Lang state, a predecessor to present-day Vietnam. The historic Hung Temple is located in Phu Tho and draws thousands of people who mark the Hung King Temple Festival each year. Despite their heritage, the people of Phu Tho are among the poorest in the country with nearly 10 percent of the population living below the national poverty line. Tea is the mainstay of the province’s agriculture economy with other major crops being rice, cassava and palm oil. People typically build their houses with wood and thatch with corrugated tin sheets for roofing. Low-income families not only face the negative effects of living in inadequate housing but they also have to make annual repairs after the rainy season. Phu Tho is located on the Red River’s floodplain which acts as a “safety valve” to prevent severe flooding in Hanoi. From 3 October to 7 October 2016, international volunteers will help to transform lives by working hand-in-hand with 25 to 30 families to build decent homes. The houses will be made of durable materials such as sun-dried brick, concrete and tile and come with attached toilets. For more information, please contact Habitat for Humanity Vietnam at [email protected]. Habitat for Humanity International’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Anchored by the conviction that safe and affordable housing provides a path out of poverty, since 1976 Habitat has helped more than 5 million people through home construction, rehabilitation and repairs and by increasing access to improved shelter through products and services. Habitat also advocates to improve access to decent and affordable shelter and offers a variety of housing support services that enable families with limited means to make needed improvements on their homes as their time and resources allow. As a nonprofit Christian housing organization, Habitat works in more than 70 countries and welcomes people of all races, religions and nationalities to partner in its mission. Habitat has supported an estimated 2 million individuals in the Asia-Pacific region, where it has been active since 1983. To get more information, to donate or to volunteer, please visit habitat.org/asiapacific or follow us at facebook.com/habitat. 29