Julio Ugarte

Peruvian social entrepreneur creating inclusive education models for disabled children

After losing his legs to meningitis at 14, Ugarte founded Aynimundo in 2001 – an NGO revolutionizing special education through "architecture for inclusion". His community-centered design approach builds accessible schools featuring:

• Ramp systems doubling as art galleries
• Tactile learning walls for visually impaired
• Sound-based playground navigation

Ugarte's UN-recognized model has transformed 37 public spaces across Lima. The "Play Without Limits" program trains teachers in multisensory pedagogies, reaching 8,200+ students annually. His TEDx talk "Building Ability Through Design" sparked global discussions on inclusive urban planning.

Despite Peru's NGO funding cuts, Ugarte maintains operations through upcycled material innovations – turning plastic waste into adaptive learning tools. A 2022 Ashoka Fellowship enabled expansion to rural Amazon communities.