BRINGING MOD CONS TO THE SLUMS

By: Jonathan Kalan

Published: BBC FUTURE; http://www.bbc.com ; alternatively, google the title and writer’s name http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20130325-bringing-mod-cons-to-the-slums

Level of Difficulty: **

BEFORE YOU READ

·         How serious a problem is urban migration?

·         What kind of pressures does this put on the infrastructure of cities?

·         What kind of accommodation do most of these migrants have?

·         What are some of the practical problems in urban slums?

·         What are the social and humanitarian consequences of the above?

NOW LISTEN AND MAKE NOTES

Upgrading slums for better cities https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCgvSmlVJeY

Slums and cities: the past the present and future https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFD7hPJ37Iw

QUESTIONS

1.       How many of the statements below are true for slum dwellers according to the text?

·         They lack basic facilities

·         They lack basic amenities

·         They lack opportunities

·         They lack basic accommodation

·         They lack basic health care

·         All of the above

2.       Slum dwellers often use their ingenuity to provide basic services yet this doesn’t mean…………………………………………………………..aren’t needed.

3.       The purpose of iShack is to provide………………………………………………………………………..

4.       Which of the slum dwellers day to day problems does iShack address?

5.       iShack is implementing a meter system for supplying solar energy mainly to prevent…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

6.       Any appliances and technology set up in slums needs to be removable to address the problem of ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

7.       Christian Sarkar feels there is a market in shanty towns for basic facilities because………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

8.       How much encouragement do you think the big companies will need to get into the housing market for the poor? How do you know?

9.       The fact that big companies are waking up to the potential for business in shanty towns is proved by ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

10.   What is the most important example of Hyper-Wattle?

11.   Irfan Keshavjee feels iShack and Hyper-Wattle are not the best solution because …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

12.   What is the downside of the population of a country not being able to buy houses?

13.   What is the reasoning behind the way Karibu determined the installments for houses?

14.   How urgent is the problem of housing in slums? Why?

WRITING TASK

Research the following projects: iShacks, Hyper-Wattle and Karibu homes and take notes. When you are ready, use your notes and the information in the text to write a problem and solution essay concerning the ways in which the lives of slum dwellers can be improved.

In your introduction, describe the problem as it now stands. End your introduction with a thesis statement stating that there are both short term and long term solutions to the problems.

In your first developmental paragraph, discuss iShacks and Hyper-Wattle. Your topic statement should state that these solutions are primarily directed at those making less than 300 dollars a month until they can afford the long term solution.

In your second developmental paragraph, discuss Karibu homes, which target those making 300 dollars a month. State that the aim is to move all slum dwellers into such homes.

In your conclusion, suggest more public awareness campaigns and efforts by authorities to draw the attention of big business to the opportunities in shanty towns.

BRINGING MOD CONS TO THE SLUMS KEY AND TEACHER’S NOTES

This completely unique text highlights a problem that all big cities, especially those in developing countries, experience and which has both humanitarian and social impacts. I feel it is worthwhile to try and alert students to such problems to increase social awareness. There are various projects mentioned in the text which will need to be researched before any writing can be done but the sooner they get the message that research needs to precede writing the better.

1.       The first according to the text; although we know the rest are true for slums, they are not mentioned at this point. It is the text we go with

2.       Better more sustainable solutions to house the urban poor in Africa

3.       Improved shack living; OR: an innovative approach to slum improvements

4.       Energy, water, airflow, sunlight heating, insulation, protection against fire

5.       Fires

6.       Insecurity of tenure

7.       The poor end up paying far more than people think for electricity housing and water

8.       Very little; the number of people in need of safe housing will triple to around 5 billion by 2030.

9.       The 300 Dollar House Open Design Challenge

10.   Hyper-Wattle can be built by women, the elderly or handicapped workers

11.   A house is not just a house; it is a status thing

12.   Weak social fabric

13.   Owners will pay around 30% of their monthly income – about the same as they would pay in a slum.

14.   Very; slums are becoming more packed and less secure as migration from rural areas continues.