Media
Media Release
June 25, 2007
RMIT Students to Design Housing for Street Kids in Vietnam
The Lifestart Foundation has announced an innovative partnership with RMIT and Architects Without Frontiers to design a house for at-risk street kids in one of the poorest regions of Vietnam.
3rd and 4th year students from RMIT's School of Architecture and Design are currently in Hoi An in the Quang Nam Province of Vietnam working in collaboration with students from RMIT's Vietnam campus to prepare final design concepts for the building.
Music teacher Karen Leonard, who founded the Lifestart Foundation in 2004, is hopeful the project will be the start of a long-term collaboration. "The brief," says Leonard, "is to deal specifically with the problems caused by annual typhoons. I am hopeful that the final designs will set an innovative and environmental benchmark for future buildings in this flood prone area."
The Founding Director of Architects Without Frontiers Australia, Dr Esther Charlesworth, is leading the RMIT students on their field trip to Vietnam with OzQuest providing logistical support.
"Involving young Australian designers in this "real-world" design-build project is a key objective in merging the often mutually exclusive agendas of design, social responsibility and community sustainability. AWF and RMIT are delighted to be working with the Lifestart Foundation and OzQuest in the development of practical design solutions for at-risk street kids in Hoi An," said AWF's Dr. Charlesworth.
The building to be designed will house up to 15 children aged from their teens to early 20s for a period of one year, providing them with food, training, clothing and medical treatment. Following their stay the children will have the training and grounding to enable them to start work in the city of Hoi An.
Construction of the house is expected to commence within 12 months, once land has been purchased. Lifestart Foundation's main fundraising event, the annual Christmas in July dinner dance and charity auction will be held on Saturday, 28 July. Designs for the house will be unveiled at the event.
Leonard first conceived the Lifestart Foundation when she was backpacking through Vietnam in 2001. A private school music teacher for 30 years, she was deeply affected after a chance encounter with a street kid during her trip. She was introduced to his world and realised she had to do something.
Her assistance first took the form of personally supporting several street kids by encouraging them back to school and paying their education costs. Since the Lifestart Foundation was formed it has provided 52 education scholarships for children; has given 89 micro-business grants to families to assist them toward self-sufficiency; installed basic services for many families in their homes; provided clothing to over 100 children; assisted 29 'at-risk' street children into training programs; built seven houses for families who were without shelter; built 20 boats to provide a source of income and shelter for families during annual flooding; renovated and given basic supplies to a local orphanage; and assisted with medical expenses for a number of children with severe illnesses. In 2006, she opened the Lifestart Foundation Free School. She is currently working towards providing self-sufficiency for people with disabilities.
Lifestart Foundation is a non-profit charity registered in Victoria. www.lifestartfoundation.org.au
For all media enquiries and interview requests please contact:
Fran Lanigan t: 03) 9690-7557 m: 0412-174-033 e: laniganf@ozemail.com.au