Report
Creating space for young people in urban slums of Sierra Leone
Urban Synergies Group, University of Canberra- Health Research Institute
2020
Abstract
Sierra Leone is located in the Sub-Saharan region of Africa’s west coast. It’s 7.6 million people rank amongst the poorest in the world, with more than half living on less than US$1.90 per day, and 75 per cent of the urban population living in informal settlement (slum) areas as of 2014. Sierra Leone’s population is dominated by youth: after the lengthy civil war from 1991 to 2002, rapid population growth and one of the world’s lowest life expectancies means that as of 2015 more than 40% of the population was aged under 15, and 80% were aged 35 or younger, and many of these youth live in informal settlements. There is a critical need to identify both the current well-being of youth living in informal settlements, and to identify and test community-scale interventions that have potential to support and build well-being in this at-risk population, where wellbeing challenges range from lacking a clear voice in the community, to lack of access to education, lack of employment opportunities, social exclusion spatially as well as in decision making processes, exposure to poor housing conditions, (sexual) violence, early pregnancy, no access to health services, drug and alcohol abuse, criminal activity, and others. These challenges often leave youth living in informal settlements with little space for dreaming and little opportunity to increase their personal wellbeing. Addressing the needs of young people and investing in their potential is critical to national growth, development, and security.
Details
- Title
- Creating space for young people in urban slums of Sierra Leone
- Authors
- Jacki Schirmer (Author) - University of CanberraGregor Helmut Mews (Author) - Queensland University of TechnologyNina Fredslund Ottosen (Author) - DreamtownRasmus Bering (Author) - Dreamtown
- Publication details
- 94 pages
- Publisher
- Urban Synergies Group, University of Canberra- Health Research Institute
- ISBN
- 9780995409538
- Organisation Unit
- School of Law and Society; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Bioclimatic and Sociotechnical Cities Lab
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99625340202621
- Output Type
- Report
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