Buenos Aires IFP 2007

Buenos Aires, Argentina: Poverty, Youth and the City

2007 will be the sixth year of the Buenos Aires IFP, where students will gather knowledge about Buenos Aires’ social, economic and cultural development issues. Students will work with the University of Buenos Aires and with Fundación SES, an NGO dedicated to development issues and with close links to the local NGO network.

Argentina represents an interesting case of a middle-income developing country recovering from a recent economic crisis. The 2001 crisis was the culmination of a long period of neo-liberal policies and social impoverishment. During this period, almost all public services were privatized and had weak regulation systems. The voice of civil society was absent in that process and is still out of the picture. Throughout this structural crisis, however, cultural expression remained strong and increased, particularly in the city of Buenos Aires.

In the summer 2006 Buenos Aires program, students participated in a series of lectures provided by key experts, policy makers, and researchers. Students worked with organizations such as SES, La Cava and in issues related to human rights and urban development. They also traveled to Mendoza where they visited local development projects.

The 2007 Buenos Aires IFP will give the students the opportunity to integrate their GPIA classroom education with practical fieldwork and instruction on the ground on Urban Development and Education, Local Development and Youth Participation.

Urban Development. This internship will be led by the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Development of University of Buenos Aires. A high committed group of professionals, in partnership with the government and NGOs, is working on relevant projects related with the development of deprived areas in Buenos Aires and greater Buenos Aires, as well as on redevelopment projects for the city. Students will collaborate with one of the professional teams.

GPIA / FADU-UBA/ 2007

The Architecture, Design and Urbanism Faculty of the Universidad de Buenos Aires -FADU/UBA- offers students the possibility of working on internships regarding social development, volunteer work, research projects in habitat and sustainable development, design of networks linked to other Latin American experiences and work with local NGOs.

FADU has been working on knowledge sharing linked to the needs and design of public policy regarding housing, infrastructure, human rights and sustainability. It has also developed experiences with Latin American students.

The proposal includes experiences of academic reflection on monitoring participatory processes of urbanization and planning, as well as the link with local government offices and solidarity work with people and social organizations in marginalized settlements.

Each student will have the support of a personal tutor- a graduate student- who will help on the academic side, and will offer support as the "local partner" for any issue related to the project, as well as to promote the participation of the GPIA students in the local cultural life. The proposed agenda includes academic contact, as well as meetings with local and national government officials.

The 2007 program is hoping to strengthen the ties between The New School and the UBA regarding the Bicentennial Program and Projects.

This internship is open to 4 students.

Education, local development and youth participation. This internship will led by Fundación SES (Sustentabilidad, Educación, Solidaridad), a well known national NGO and a member of the Latin American NGOs network, with ample experience on development. SES develops social projects with adolescents and young people in poverty and exclusion, working in association with an extensive network of NGOs and grass roots organization in the country.

GPIA, The New School, and SES have being increasing their collaboration during the last three years. The program that we are offering to the students for IFP 2007 incorporates important improvements and lessons learned from the 2006 IFP participants.

During the internship with SES and the NGOs local network, students will have the opportunity to develop research and active practical field experience in either one or more of the following areas: Education, Young people and work, Local development and Going on scale projects.

Methodology: The internship in SES and associated NGOs will be divided into three working blocks:

First block. The objective of the initial part in Argentina will be to provide the students with knowledge on the different programmatic areas where SES and its partners act. This stage will give students inputs for selecting the area and direction for their field work, as well as, knowledge on the development context of Argentina. Students will have contact with different SES divisions. (2 weeks at SES)

Second block. Students will develop their fieldwork in one of the organizations chosen during the first block. Students will work in small teams or individually in different locations, including SES. (One month)

Third Block. The last part will be devoted to draw lessons and results from the experience and preparing the final report and presentations to SES and the stakeholders.


The course has three parts:

  • 1. Spring semester class sessions. Students will complete a set of readings that will be provided and attend four lectures on relevant issues related to Argentina. They will also hold periodic meetings with the Faculty Coordinator of the program.
  • 2. Field projects in Buenos Aires in June and July. Although students will work as a team with their respective organizations, they will develop individual field research and write individual final papers.
  • 3. Weekly seminar in Buenos Aires in June and July. Students will talk and interact with key Argentine actors from social, political, cultural, and academic fields.

Information Session: Tuesday, Nov. 7, Room 609 at 6 p.m.

For the students interested in working with SES, there will be a general information session with Marcelo Krichesky, Coordinator of Educational Programs in SES, on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2006, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at 66 W. 12th St. Room 609. Students who attend will also have the opportunity to set up individual meetings with Mr. Krichesky.

Language note: Spanish proficiency required

Tentative Program Dates: June 1 - August 15

Faculty Coordinators: