Day 1 – July 1

INSPIRING OPENING OF IDDS 2017 COLOMBIA

In the auditorium of Cercun (Fusagasugá) the inauguration of International Design for Development Meeting IDDS Adaptation to Climate Change 2017, whose philosophy is that participants work around 4 guidelines: collaboration, diversity, doing work with their hands and together with local communities, for 17 consecutive days.

“I’m happy to see how IDDS has grown; it’s been like watching a child evolve. IDDS is a magical world where you share with people from all over the world, with whom you learn joyfully, and most importantly, you work as a community because we live, work, sleep, and complement each other. –We come in here with two hands, but we leave with many–,“ said Amy Smith, founder of IDDS.

The IDDS It was born in the heart of this mechanical engineer, a teacher at the University of Massachusetts, Smith, who one day decided to stop doing further research that would remain on paper or result in an event that only brought together specialists on a topic but wouldn't take action, adds, "During these 17 days of the summit, people work extensively with their hands, an experience that translates into work that is gradually changing the world.".

“This summit is being held within the framework of the agreement between the National University of Colombia and the University of Cundinamarca, ”We warmly welcome all participants and organizers during these days in which the country and the world will be shown that research contributes to social transformation,” said José Zacarías Mayorgas, Director of Research at UCundinamarca.

This meeting has the participation of 80 people, 60 participants and 20 organizers, who for 17 days will attend daily collaborative and manual activities, where the diversity of each one will be a great contribution to the generation of 10 prototypes aimed at providing tools that improve the living conditions of local communities, especially in rural areas.

It is worth noting the outstanding performance by the University of Cundinamarca's theater group during the opening event with their play, Colombia Macheteada. "This is a message of peace and reconciliation from Fusagasugá to the world through art," stated Natalia Morales, director of the theater group.

IDDS 2017 Inauguration in CERCÚN

Coverage of the IDDS 2017 Inauguration at CERCUN

More news from IDDS 2017 at the News Agency