IDS: the realities, issues and challenges of life in informal settlements.

IDS is delighted to announce yet another event! This time we will be addressing the realities, issues and challenges of life in informal settlements. In 2008 for the first time in history more people live in cities than rural areas. This fact, however, does not necessarily represent progress- the number of people living in slums will soon exceed 1 billion, that is one-third of urban dwellers. With UN forecasting the number of the slum dwellers doubling in next 25 years, slums are the fastest growing human habitat. Slums, being informal settlements not recognized by municipalities, lack basic infrastructure, public services, clean water and sanitation. This makes living in slums very challenging and often dangerous. Monday, 19th of March, University of Westminster,  Regent Street Campus, RS 152 SPEAKERS: Dr. Atreyee Sen RCUK Fellow in Coflict, Cohesion and Change, University of Manchester Presenting her essay: 'Against Our Mothers’: Child Vigilantes and Public Beating of Women in an Indian slum Isis Paola PhD researcher at University of Westminster (Research Project on Creativity and Scarcity in the Built Environment) Sharing her experience from 6 months fieldwork in Mathare, second largest slum in Kenya: It is the aim of this talk to encourage a critical discussion on urban informality and poverty, with a focus on issues of agency and inclusion We will be screening BBC show "Famous, Rich & in the Slums" in which four UK celebrities try to live in the largest African slum Kibera (Nairobi, Kenya). You will also have an opportunity to see series of pictures by student of MA Photojournalism at the University of Westminster, Pio De Rose, who visited Kibera in 2011. Snacks and drinks will be provided! Hope to see you there, IDS Team