UN-Habitat’s Doug Ragan went to meet young people working for the Mathare Environment Conservation Youth Group to hear how they are helping local people stay safe, healthy and optimistic.
The Group’s coordinator, Isaac Muasa, a winner of UN-Habitat’s Scroll of Honour award, describes the main challenges facing the community during the pandemic such as unemployment but also outlines the progress being made including providing facilities for over 2 million handwashes.
“Young people have been taking the initiative of trying to look at challenges and turn them into opportunities,” he says.
Doug Ragan also speaks to Rhoda about supporting women during an upsurge in gender violence, Winnie who is working with children and youth and Gerry an artist and musician who has a message of hope.
“Even if you come from the gutter you are important,” says Gerry. “Many people come from worse places and end up building their lives and changing the world.”
Listen to the podcast here https://soundcloud.com/un-habitat-worldwide/habtalk-episode-2
More stories of urban life from UN-Habitat are available on Habtalk https://soundcloud.com/un-habitat-worldwide
