imagine sitting on a treasure and not knowing about it so I’d like to share
knowing about it so I’d like to share
knowing about it so I’d like to share the story of how an idea how a
the story of how an idea how a
the story of how an idea how a organization came to be it all starts
organization came to be it all starts
organization came to be it all starts with this man my dear friend Ghulam in
with this man my dear friend Ghulam in
with this man my dear friend Ghulam in late 2015
late 2015
late 2015 so gunam used to be a navigator working
so gunam used to be a navigator working
so gunam used to be a navigator working on board of a big container ship for
on board of a big container ship for
on board of a big container ship for steena shipping company and he sealed
steena shipping company and he sealed
steena shipping company and he sealed the world for many many years at some
the world for many many years at some
the world for many many years at some point he had to return to Yangon to look
point he had to return to Yangon to look
point he had to return to Yangon to look after his two sons his mother his sister
after his two sons his mother his sister
after his two sons his mother his sister and a few other family members he had
and a few other family members he had
and a few other family members he had some savings from his time as a
some savings from his time as a
some savings from his time as a navigator and he also started working as
navigator and he also started working as
navigator and he also started working as a taxi driver to earn some extra income
a taxi driver to earn some extra income
a taxi driver to earn some extra income and so for a few years he was able to
and so for a few years he was able to
and so for a few years he was able to make ends meet but in late 2015
make ends meet but in late 2015
make ends meet but in late 2015 Ghulam ran out of savings while his
Ghulam ran out of savings while his
Ghulam ran out of savings while his mother fell ill and school fees for his
mother fell ill and school fees for his
mother fell ill and school fees for his two sons were due and it was to me that
two sons were due and it was to me that
two sons were due and it was to me that he turned for help now it wasn’t that I
he turned for help now it wasn’t that I
he turned for help now it wasn’t that I had any track record of helping people
had any track record of helping people
had any track record of helping people avoid depth in fact rather the opposite
avoid depth in fact rather the opposite
avoid depth in fact rather the opposite up until then had mostly been working on
up until then had mostly been working on
up until then had mostly been working on pretty abstract governance issues but
pretty abstract governance issues but
pretty abstract governance issues but other than giving him the money he
other than giving him the money he
other than giving him the money he needed an idea for a more sustainable
needed an idea for a more sustainable
needed an idea for a more sustainable solution did come to mind so I had
solution did come to mind so I had
solution did come to mind so I had always been a big fan of heritage
always been a big fan of heritage
always been a big fan of heritage buildings renovating and moving into an
buildings renovating and moving into an
buildings renovating and moving into an old building when I first arrived mm er
old building when I first arrived mm er
old building when I first arrived mm er four years ago at that point it wasn’t
four years ago at that point it wasn’t
four years ago at that point it wasn’t very common yet for foreigners to stay
very common yet for foreigners to stay
very common yet for foreigners to stay downtown in fact it was somewhat
downtown in fact it was somewhat
downtown in fact it was somewhat discouraged by local authorities as some
discouraged by local authorities as some
discouraged by local authorities as some of you might remember as that meant I
of you might remember as that meant I
of you might remember as that meant I couldn’t find a broker who would show me
couldn’t find a broker who would show me
couldn’t find a broker who would show me places I roamed the streets for many
places I roamed the streets for many
places I roamed the streets for many many days taking notes of areas and
many days taking notes of areas and
many days taking notes of areas and buildings where I wanted to live and I
buildings where I wanted to live and I
buildings where I wanted to live and I chatted with people on the sidewalks to
chatted with people on the sidewalks to
chatted with people on the sidewalks to find out what was going on inside these
find out what was going on inside these
find out what was going on inside these buildings and whether I could perhaps
buildings and whether I could perhaps
buildings and whether I could perhaps stay there and I remember that people
stay there and I remember that people
stay there and I remember that people were really surprised that I was in
were really surprised that I was in
were really surprised that I was in staying in these old buildings rather
staying in these old buildings rather
staying in these old buildings rather than in a new modern condominium and I
than in a new modern condominium and I
than in a new modern condominium and I also remember that I was really
also remember that I was really
also remember that I was really surprised that people didn’t seem to
surprised that people didn’t seem to
surprised that people didn’t seem to realize the beauty of these buildings
realize the beauty of these buildings
realize the beauty of these buildings and so after days of such wandering
and so after days of such wandering
and so after days of such wandering around I found the building where I
around I found the building where I
around I found the building where I still live today and in fact this man is
still live today and in fact this man is
still live today and in fact this man is now my neighbor so back to my friend
now my neighbor so back to my friend
now my neighbor so back to my friend Ghulam who was in financial trouble he
Ghulam who was in financial trouble he
Ghulam who was in financial trouble he was in financial trouble but he also had
was in financial trouble but he also had
was in financial trouble but he also had a second apartment next to his own on
a second apartment next to his own on
a second apartment next to his own on historic Bogle is a street he’d been
historic Bogle is a street he’d been
historic Bogle is a street he’d been renting it out but as it was quite
renting it out but as it was quite
renting it out but as it was quite rundown he wasn’t receiving a lot of
rundown he wasn’t receiving a lot of
rundown he wasn’t receiving a lot of money on it so I suggested to renovate
money on it so I suggested to renovate
money on it so I suggested to renovate the units and see if we could increase
the units and see if we could increase
the units and see if we could increase the rent so we set out to create a
the rent so we set out to create a
the rent so we set out to create a modern design that also kept the old
modern design that also kept the old
modern design that also kept the old heritage elements we found the money
heritage elements we found the money
heritage elements we found the money that he needed to borrow to renovate it
that he needed to borrow to renovate it
that he needed to borrow to renovate it and after the renovation was complete we
and after the renovation was complete we
and after the renovation was complete we found a new tenant and guess what
found a new tenant and guess what
found a new tenant and guess what the new tenant was willing to pay four
the new tenant was willing to pay four
the new tenant was willing to pay four times more the amount who long have been
times more the amount who long have been
times more the amount who long have been receiving previously and so that meant
receiving previously and so that meant
receiving previously and so that meant that renovation was paid back within a
that renovation was paid back within a
that renovation was paid back within a year and that the family started
year and that the family started
year and that the family started enjoying a solid monthly income now
enjoying a solid monthly income now
enjoying a solid monthly income now before we knew it friends and family
before we knew it friends and family
before we knew it friends and family members started coming to us asking us
members started coming to us asking us
members started coming to us asking us if we could help them do the same and
if we could help them do the same and
if we could help them do the same and after some deliberation Ghulam and I
after some deliberation Ghulam and I
after some deliberation Ghulam and I decided to team up and we started
decided to team up and we started
decided to team up and we started renovating these places and it was in
renovating these places and it was in
renovating these places and it was in this process that we started having an
this process that we started having an
this process that we started having an important realization and that is that
important realization and that is that
important realization and that is that heritage conservation can be so much
heritage conservation can be so much
heritage conservation can be so much more so much more than the dogmatic
more so much more than the dogmatic
more so much more than the dogmatic imperative it often is one must preserve
imperative it often is one must preserve
imperative it often is one must preserve history one must preserve colonial
history one must preserve colonial
history one must preserve colonial history that is even what we realized
history that is even what we realized
history that is even what we realized was that heritage conservation can also
was that heritage conservation can also
was that heritage conservation can also first and foremost improve people’s
first and foremost improve people’s
first and foremost improve people’s livelihoods and their neighborhoods
now let me share a little Side Story so
now let me share a little Side Story so while we are renovating our fifth
while we are renovating our fifth
while we are renovating our fifth property on lower 27th Street we noticed
property on lower 27th Street we noticed
property on lower 27th Street we noticed the space behind the property we have
the space behind the property we have
the space behind the property we have been talking about how little public
been talking about how little public
been talking about how little public space there was in downtown yangon and
space there was in downtown yangon and
space there was in downtown yangon and how we would like for there to be more
how we would like for there to be more
how we would like for there to be more places to be outside and relax and we
places to be outside and relax and we
places to be outside and relax and we noticed this back alley and I don’t know
noticed this back alley and I don’t know
noticed this back alley and I don’t know how many of you have noticed the back
how many of you have noticed the back
how many of you have noticed the back alleys in downtown yangon but they’re
alleys in downtown yangon but they’re
alleys in downtown yangon but they’re dirty right and full of trash well we
dirty right and full of trash well we
dirty right and full of trash well we probably had one of the dirtiest ones in
probably had one of the dirtiest ones in
probably had one of the dirtiest ones in downtown behind a property but we
downtown behind a property but we
downtown behind a property but we thought given there are so many of these
thought given there are so many of these
thought given there are so many of these that it would be really nice to see if
that it would be really nice to see if
that it would be really nice to see if we could clean it up and turn it into a
we could clean it up and turn it into a
we could clean it up and turn it into a space that people could enjoy so we
space that people could enjoy so we
space that people could enjoy so we decided to try it out and we turned 20
decided to try it out and we turned 20
decided to try it out and we turned 20 meters of such a trash alley into an
meters of such a trash alley into an
meters of such a trash alley into an alley garden at first
at first people thought we were quite
at first people thought we were quite crazy we were hanging out in this back
crazy we were hanging out in this back
crazy we were hanging out in this back alley but when we organized a mural
alley but when we organized a mural
alley but when we organized a mural painting workshop for the children from
painting workshop for the children from
painting workshop for the children from the community during the my egg on my
the community during the my egg on my
the community during the my egg on my home festival the idea started to pique
home festival the idea started to pique
home festival the idea started to pique people’s interest and again other people
people’s interest and again other people
people’s interest and again other people and individuals and neighborhoods
and individuals and neighborhoods
and individuals and neighborhoods started coming to us to ask us if we
started coming to us to ask us if we
started coming to us to ask us if we could maybe help them do the same and we
could maybe help them do the same and we
could maybe help them do the same and we thought we saw a parallel between our
thought we saw a parallel between our
thought we saw a parallel between our heritage conservation work and the back
heritage conservation work and the back
heritage conservation work and the back alley project now let’s zoom out a
alley project now let’s zoom out a
alley project now let’s zoom out a little bit Yangon is one of the last
little bit Yangon is one of the last
little bit Yangon is one of the last cities in Asia with its historic city
cities in Asia with its historic city
cities in Asia with its historic city center pretty much still intact there
center pretty much still intact there
center pretty much still intact there are over 2,000 historic properties still
are over 2,000 historic properties still
are over 2,000 historic properties still standing in downtown yangon and that
standing in downtown yangon and that
standing in downtown yangon and that puts Hangang right up there with other
puts Hangang right up there with other
puts Hangang right up there with other his stories for historic cities like
his stories for historic cities like
his stories for historic cities like Hanoi Havana Bombay and Calcutta overall
Hanoi Havana Bombay and Calcutta overall
Hanoi Havana Bombay and Calcutta overall the downtown bridge is pretty much still
the downtown bridge is pretty much still
the downtown bridge is pretty much still as the British planted about 150 years
as the British planted about 150 years
as the British planted about 150 years ago now after years of neglect many
ago now after years of neglect many
ago now after years of neglect many buildings might still structurally be ok
buildings might still structurally be ok
buildings might still structurally be ok but they no longer provide for safe and
but they no longer provide for safe and
but they no longer provide for safe and healthy living conditions I’m sure many
healthy living conditions I’m sure many
healthy living conditions I’m sure many of you have seen old buildings in
of you have seen old buildings in
of you have seen old buildings in downtown yangon with red flakes that ycd
downtown yangon with red flakes that ycd
downtown yangon with red flakes that ycd see I put on them indicating that they
see I put on them indicating that they
see I put on them indicating that they will be demolished now because
will be demolished now because
will be demolished now because renovation is such an expensive and
renovation is such an expensive and
renovation is such an expensive and complex thing to do in the last year’s
complex thing to do in the last year’s
complex thing to do in the last year’s demolition followed by the construction
demolition followed by the construction
demolition followed by the construction of new buildings such as this one has
of new buildings such as this one has
of new buildings such as this one has become more and more common there has
become more and more common there has
become more and more common there has been a movement to protect heritage but
been a movement to protect heritage but
been a movement to protect heritage but as in many other places around the world
as in many other places around the world
as in many other places around the world this movement has largely focused on
this movement has largely focused on
this movement has largely focused on saving big public buildings such as the
saving big public buildings such as the
saving big public buildings such as the Secretariat or the railway station
Secretariat or the railway station
Secretariat or the railway station building and so far it has mostly been
building and so far it has mostly been
building and so far it has mostly been large institutions that have been
large institutions that have been
large institutions that have been involved in saving these big public
involved in saving these big public
involved in saving these big public buildings not ordinary people what I’m
buildings not ordinary people what I’m
buildings not ordinary people what I’m advocating today is to preserve and
advocating today is to preserve and
advocating today is to preserve and reuse smaller heritage landscapes
reuse smaller heritage landscapes
reuse smaller heritage landscapes buildings and to do so in a bottom-up
buildings and to do so in a bottom-up
buildings and to do so in a bottom-up and citizen-led wing heritage
and citizen-led wing heritage
and citizen-led wing heritage conservation directly with or even by
conservation directly with or even by
conservation directly with or even by homeowners and where possible a
homeowners and where possible a
homeowners and where possible a financially viable ways because first of
financially viable ways because first of
financially viable ways because first of all wouldn’t you agree that it is as
all wouldn’t you agree that it is as
all wouldn’t you agree that it is as much the smaller heritage landscapes and
much the smaller heritage landscapes and
much the smaller heritage landscapes and streets and buildings that make the city
streets and buildings that make the city
streets and buildings that make the city so unique streets and buildings like
so unique streets and buildings like
so unique streets and buildings like this one or this one or this one
this one or this one or this one
this one or this one or this one and secondly more important when you
and secondly more important when you
and secondly more important when you work on heritage conservation with
work on heritage conservation with
work on heritage conservation with communities there’s a chance for
communities there’s a chance for
communities there’s a chance for communities to prosper through caring
communities to prosper through caring
communities to prosper through caring for something that they already have to
for something that they already have to
for something that they already have to recognize what they already have as
recognize what they already have as
recognize what they already have as assets and unlock the value of these
assets and unlock the value of these
assets and unlock the value of these because with the growing interest of
because with the growing interest of
because with the growing interest of both residents and visitors heritage
both residents and visitors heritage
both residents and visitors heritage conservation doesn’t only need to be
conservation doesn’t only need to be
conservation doesn’t only need to be about identity or history it can also be
about identity or history it can also be
about identity or history it can also be a business case a social business case
a business case a social business case
a business case a social business case of benefit to local families now this is
of benefit to local families now this is
of benefit to local families now this is what I call acid based Urban Development
what I call acid based Urban Development
what I call acid based Urban Development and this is exactly what we seek to
and this is exactly what we seek to
and this is exactly what we seek to achieve with the organization called
achieve with the organization called
achieve with the organization called Doane we have seen set up our home that
Doane we have seen set up our home that
Doane we have seen set up our home that means now let me say a little bit more
means now let me say a little bit more
means now let me say a little bit more about this acid based Urban
about this acid based Urban
about this acid based Urban development’s because I’ve been giving
development’s because I’ve been giving
development’s because I’ve been giving it quite a lot of thought so as a
it quite a lot of thought so as a
it quite a lot of thought so as a development professional I often think
development professional I often think
development professional I often think about the kind of development approach
about the kind of development approach
about the kind of development approach that I feel can make a real sustainable
that I feel can make a real sustainable
that I feel can make a real sustainable impact a development approach that I
impact a development approach that I
impact a development approach that I feel can justify and guide my presence
feel can justify and guide my presence
feel can justify and guide my presence here as a foreigner mingling in local
here as a foreigner mingling in local
here as a foreigner mingling in local affairs and overall I have come to feel
affairs and overall I have come to feel
affairs and overall I have come to feel most comfortable with acid based
most comfortable with acid based
most comfortable with acid based developments acid based development is
developments acid based development is
developments acid based development is all about sustainable development of
all about sustainable development of
all about sustainable development of communities based on their own strengths
communities based on their own strengths
communities based on their own strengths and potentials acid based developments
and potentials acid based developments
and potentials acid based developments identifies resources within communities
identifies resources within communities
identifies resources within communities which can be Natural Resources or
which can be Natural Resources or
which can be Natural Resources or leadership resources or in our case
leadership resources or in our case
leadership resources or in our case cultural heritage resources and then it
cultural heritage resources and then it
cultural heritage resources and then it uses these resources to turn them into
uses these resources to turn them into
uses these resources to turn them into products or services that
products or services that
products or services that benefit the local community and when
benefit the local community and when
benefit the local community and when this is done in the right way not only
this is done in the right way not only
this is done in the right way not only does it lead to economic benefits such
does it lead to economic benefits such
does it lead to economic benefits such as jobs or businesses also strengthens
as jobs or businesses also strengthens
as jobs or businesses also strengthens these assets themselves now all of this
these assets themselves now all of this
these assets themselves now all of this is the exact opposite needs-based
is the exact opposite needs-based
is the exact opposite needs-based approach NEET based approaches are all
approach NEET based approaches are all
approach NEET based approaches are all about what communities don’t have they
about what communities don’t have they
about what communities don’t have they focus on weaknesses on gaps and then
focus on weaknesses on gaps and then
focus on weaknesses on gaps and then they come up with solutions and
they come up with solutions and
they come up with solutions and interventions to fix these gaps but what
interventions to fix these gaps but what
interventions to fix these gaps but what often happens in the process is that
often happens in the process is that
often happens in the process is that communities start feeling disempowered
communities start feeling disempowered
communities start feeling disempowered passive recipients of help rather than
passive recipients of help rather than
passive recipients of help rather than people actively in control of their own
people actively in control of their own
people actively in control of their own lives now the active based approach is
lives now the active based approach is
lives now the active based approach is beautiful to me because its departure
beautiful to me because its departure
beautiful to me because its departure point is wealth abundance it helps
point is wealth abundance it helps
point is wealth abundance it helps people realize all the strengths and
people realize all the strengths and
people realize all the strengths and treasures that are already within their
treasures that are already within their
treasures that are already within their community and it helps them to use these
community and it helps them to use these
community and it helps them to use these and this is what I like about our
and this is what I like about our
and this is what I like about our heritage conservation work all we are
heritage conservation work all we are
heritage conservation work all we are doing is helping them become aware of
doing is helping them become aware of
doing is helping them become aware of all the assets that surround them we all
all the assets that surround them we all
all the assets that surround them we all perish homeowners realize that they’re
perish homeowners realize that they’re
perish homeowners realize that they’re sitting on a treasure we help people
sitting on a treasure we help people
sitting on a treasure we help people living next to trash alleys realize that
living next to trash alleys realize that
living next to trash alleys realize that these trash alleys can be valuable
these trash alleys can be valuable
these trash alleys can be valuable public space too and we see a lot of
public space too and we see a lot of
public space too and we see a lot of other assets as well and by then
other assets as well and by then
other assets as well and by then creating concrete financial and social
creating concrete financial and social
creating concrete financial and social returns we create tangible incentives
returns we create tangible incentives
returns we create tangible incentives for people to keep looking after these
for people to keep looking after these
for people to keep looking after these assets after their heritage after their
assets after their heritage after their
assets after their heritage after their public space and ultimately after every
public space and ultimately after every
public space and ultimately after every unique square meter that forms the city
unique square meter that forms the city
unique square meter that forms the city angong now of course I know it’s not as
angong now of course I know it’s not as
angong now of course I know it’s not as easy has simply persuading people to
easy has simply persuading people to
easy has simply persuading people to keep their heritage homes or to sweep
keep their heritage homes or to sweep
keep their heritage homes or to sweep their back alleys there’s a lot of other
their back alleys there’s a lot of other
their back alleys there’s a lot of other things that would need to be done to
things that would need to be done to
things that would need to be done to things that are beyond us a key one that
things that are beyond us a key one that
things that are beyond us a key one that I want to single out is in secure
I want to single out is in secure
I want to single out is in secure property ownership I really hope that
property ownership I really hope that
property ownership I really hope that this will be an issue that will be
this will be an issue that will be
this will be an issue that will be tackled in the years to come the
tackled in the years to come the
tackled in the years to come the government must give property owners as
government must give property owners as
government must give property owners as well as land owners a chance to build
well as land owners a chance to build
well as land owners a chance to build and capitalize on what they have there
and capitalize on what they have there
and capitalize on what they have there are many other things the government
are many other things the government
are many other things the government could do – if you take a look around the
could do – if you take a look around the
could do – if you take a look around the world for example in Tanzania Zanzibar
world for example in Tanzania Zanzibar
world for example in Tanzania Zanzibar the government itself that undertake
the government itself that undertake
the government itself that undertake cost-benefit analyses of the value of
cost-benefit analyses of the value of
cost-benefit analyses of the value of heritage conservation in Havana the
heritage conservation in Havana the
heritage conservation in Havana the government lets heritage homeowners rent
government lets heritage homeowners rent
government lets heritage homeowners rent out rooms in their apartments which
out rooms in their apartments which
out rooms in their apartments which responds to touristic demand directly
responds to touristic demand directly
responds to touristic demand directly benefits families and avoids the need to
benefits families and avoids the need to
benefits families and avoids the need to have to build big hotels and in Hong
have to build big hotels and in Hong
have to build big hotels and in Hong Kong where land is so expensive
Kong where land is so expensive
Kong where land is so expensive the government compensates heritage
the government compensates heritage
the government compensates heritage homeowners for giving up the rights to
homeowners for giving up the rights to
homeowners for giving up the rights to redevelop let’s go back to my friend
redevelop let’s go back to my friend
redevelop let’s go back to my friend Coulomb Coulomb is now the proud owner
Coulomb Coulomb is now the proud owner
Coulomb Coulomb is now the proud owner of a heritage apartment and a big
of a heritage apartment and a big
of a heritage apartment and a big heritage advocate he doesn’t throw trash
heritage advocate he doesn’t throw trash
heritage advocate he doesn’t throw trash into the back alley anymore and he
into the back alley anymore and he
into the back alley anymore and he reprimands his neighbors when they do
reprimands his neighbors when they do
reprimands his neighbors when they do that he and his neighbors have realized
that he and his neighbors have realized
that he and his neighbors have realized that looking after their heritage and
that looking after their heritage and
that looking after their heritage and looking after their public space can
looking after their public space can
looking after their public space can directly improve their lives and their
directly improve their lives and their
directly improve their lives and their neighborhoods I wanted to end with a
neighborhoods I wanted to end with a
neighborhoods I wanted to end with a vision or maybe it’s a request and that
vision or maybe it’s a request and that
vision or maybe it’s a request and that is for us to stop looking at Yangon as a
is for us to stop looking at Yangon as a
is for us to stop looking at Yangon as a place of problems to stop focusing on
place of problems to stop focusing on
place of problems to stop focusing on everything it’d be difficult here such
everything it’d be difficult here such
everything it’d be difficult here such as traffic or bad sewage but instead to
as traffic or bad sewage but instead to
as traffic or bad sewage but instead to start looking at Yangon as a place of
start looking at Yangon as a place of
start looking at Yangon as a place of opportunities to start focusing on
opportunities to start focusing on
opportunities to start focusing on everything that makes the city so
everything that makes the city so
everything that makes the city so special so unique on all the assets that
special so unique on all the assets that
special so unique on all the assets that we can further develop I think this city
we can further develop I think this city
we can further develop I think this city is amazing let’s invest and look after
is amazing let’s invest and look after
is amazing let’s invest and look after it thank you
it thank you
it thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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