Yasmin Ara, Lecturer, Department of Architecture, participated in an advanced training programme on "Organised Self-help Housing: Planning and Management" in San Jose, Costa Rica during January 22 - February 14 2007. About 25 participants from all over the world joined the program. The Department of Housing Development & Management (HDM), Lund University organized the course in cooperation with Fundacion Promotora de Vivienda (FUPROVI), Costa Rica. The course deals with housing policies, methods for cost effective construction, gender and social aspects of design and assessment of housing and built environment, etc. As part of coursework, Yasmin Ara prepared a manual for adopting the concept of organized self-help housing for the lower income group of Dhaka (focusing on the refugee community residing in the Mohammadpur Geneva Camp) and presented a paper titled "Refugees and IDP: Role of the Humanitarian Agencies". Ms Yasmin Ara was been awarded a fellowship by Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) to attend the program.