What if... we bring university students out into their city to engage with their neighbors and create something that foster wellbeing opportunities?
The purpose of the Hólosciens program and the Oasis project is to stimulate the economic development and healthy environments of marginal areas in Iztapalapa, Mexico City.
The project was born by connecting the students of a Health Science Faculty of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, with the neighboring community of "El Paraíso" (The Paradise), located in the same area.
What if... we turn a health science faculty into a Healthy City creative centre?
Oasis is the result of the participation of young students from the FES Zaragoza Faculty UNAM in Mexico City and experts from different fields of applied sciences and arts, who decided to put their knowledge at the service of their community.
What if...young students participated by becoming leaders of this process?
HÓLOSCIENS
"Hólosciens" means: knowledge articulated and creatively applied. A customized youth Lab focused on exploring their surroundings and co-producing a Healthy City together with the community. Hólosciens had three main objectives: 1. Science and inventiveness. Develop the creative aspect of the link between health sciences, technology and invention. 2. Linkage and integration. A transversal collaborative workspace that promoted the professional competitiveness of students. This principle of link-making works at two levels: on the one hand, a link between disciplines (sciences, humanities and arts); and on the other, a link between the local university’s academic environment with the community.
3. Healthy City project. Develop a community development project for the public space of the local urban area.
PHASE I: RESEARCH >
During the first phase, experts from different disciplines and professional backgrounds (scientists, artists, academics, business and public managers) worked along side with participant students from different health sciences. This exchange allowed students to develop a mindset to exploit their potential in fields outside their own curriculum and thus, enabling them to create and develop feasible projects with social and environmental impact.
< PHASE II: DEVELOPMENT
As a result of this guided methodology, the student created OASIS IZTAPALAPA, a project capable of promoting positive outcomes from the link between University and society.
What if... thriving Healthy Cities grew from grey peripheral urban areas?
OASIS
IZTAPALAPA
Oasis proposes to repurpose abandoned and underserved public spaces as places of development opportunity, and to turn urban areas with adverse conditions into regenerative environments capable of promoting a preventive health culture, generating local economic opportunities and participation among citizens and university students.
HOW IT WORKS / BODY: URBAN REGENERATION
A-B: Public schools (K-12) D: Urban farming modules E: Cultural mobile unit F. Social commerce stalls G. Preventive healthcare stalls H. Soccer field I. Basketball court J. Handball court K. Fruit tree pathway L. Dog space M. Rainwater harvesting N. Solar panels
Urban farming, health & commerce stalls
Local economy stalls, which include: sustainable urban farming, relevant commerce were chosen in collaboration between parents committee and local merchants, and healthcare consulting. All of this to be ran by the local community.
playground
A huge painting of a sports playground which visually portrays an overlapping map between the past and the present of the city —laid out to be explored, but also to be played in.
Oasis mobile unit
A transformable and mobile unit —equipped for cultural activities and water purification (which is fed from a water harvesting system installed in the schools).
HOW IT WORKS / SOUL: COMMUNITY HEALTH CULTURE PROGRAM
An educational & productive “Healthy Culture Program” that promotes on an annual basis an active collaboration between civilian neighbors: between “El Paraíso” community (parents, kids, teachers, young and old) and young FESZ students.
The Program streams include: · Art & Science for Kids · Environmental care · Preventive healthcare · Civic and family values
DIGITAL OASIS
Oasis Digital is an online platform that uses ICT to work as a means of communication between students and citizens and as an internal means of communication between students.
The Oasis Iztapalapa project nad the voices of its youth communities travel around the world. Being part of events such as at the "Critical and Narrative Mapping Workshop" at the Intitut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS) in Montreal, and in the 751 Design Festival at the 751 Art District in Beijing.
OASIS IZTAPALAPA COMMUNITY
— FES ZARAGOZA UNAM: implementation of extracurricular program, A social service expansion for students, AND A MODEL TO CONNECT UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS WITH ITS SURROUNDING COMMUNITY. — Students of FES Zaragoza: direct participation in the extracurricular program. — Teachers, PROFESSORS AND RESEARCHERS of FES ZARAGOZA: direct participation in the extracurricular program with student. — Experts AND PROFESSIONALS FROM SCIENCES, ARTS AND PUBLIC MANAGEMENT FROM ACROSS MEXICO CITY: EXCHANGE OF KNOWLEDGE WHILE advisING within the program. — communities in iztapalapa, "El Paraíso" and ejército de oriente, neighboring fes zaragoza unam: improvement of social and economic conditions through the resulting product of the health culture program; urban farming, public recreation area, spaces for small businesses and cultural events. THE IMPROVEMENT IS FOCUSED IN: decreasING crime rate AND INSECURITY in the area, STIMULATING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CARE. — Three k-12 Schools COMMUNITIES inside the urban area (KIDS, TEACHERS, PARENTS COMMITTEE): urban farming EXCHANGE program for students, rainwater harvesting for school facilities, public playground. — Local Businesses of El Paraíso: integration to the Business for the Community program, loyalty of local consumers. — Iztapalapa Mayor's Office: communication channel with citizens, spaces for the implementation of health programs, decrease in violence, crime and drugs in the area.
