{"id":662,"date":"2019-06-23T14:38:27","date_gmt":"2019-06-23T11:38:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unhabitatyouth.org\/?p=662"},"modified":"2023-06-22T13:07:17","modified_gmt":"2023-06-22T10:07:17","slug":"662","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unhabitatyouth.org\/es\/662\/","title":{"rendered":"Children’s Corner Inaugurated In Mathare Informal Settlement"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Nairobi, 20 June 2019 \u2013 There is a bright new playspace overlooking the Mulago Kubwa football pitch in the informal settlement of Mathare in Nairobi. The wooden pavilion, a tall open structure with wooden floors, timber beams, and a roof has been renamed ‘The Children’s Corner.’<\/p>\n

And today about 60 young children were there to mark the opening of the play area.<\/p>\n

\u201cActually it\u2019s been here about a week already,\u201d said Isaac Mutisya Muasa, a Youth Coordinator from the area. As he speaks children cartwheel and dance on the flat, wooden floor behind him. \u201cAlready school groups have been using it as a place to teach children to sing and play.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Members of the community sit infront of the new play space
Residents of Mathare sit infront of the new Children’s Corner
[UN-Habitat\/Kirsten Milhahn]<\/p>\n

UN-Habitat partnered with the Embassy of Sweden in Nairobi and ARVET, an engineering firm from Sweden, to build the model pavilion promoting the use of sustainability harvested wood for last month\u2019s UN-Habitat Assembly in Nairobi.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe couldn\u2019t ship the version we were going to showcase, from recycled Swedish wood. So we visited woodworking shops in Nairobi to source the local timber and managed to build this in time for the opening of the Assembly,\u201d explains Ivan Segato, the Architect from ARVET,<\/p>\n

Once the week-long UN-Habitat Assembly was over, the idea was floated to give the building to the Mathare community youth group to be used as a safe and fun space for children and their families to come together play and interact.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the role of architecture,\u201d smiles Segato, \u201cIt’s a spacial answer to a human need. Here in Mathare I understand there is a strong need for free space, and it\u2019s great the community can use this space as they see fit.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Kazumi Ogawa, UN-Habitat Chief of Staff
addresses the communiy
[UN-Habitat\/Kirsten Milhahn]<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need more spaces like this in communities like this,\u201d emphasizes Kazumi Ogawa, UN-Habitat Chief of Staff. \u201cSpaces where children and their families can have a safe space to hang out, and maybe have a few parties!\u201d<\/p>\n

Douglas Ragan, UN-Habitat Youth Coordinator explains how this is part of UN-Habitat\u2019s continuing partnership with the community of Mathare. \u201cOver this past week the architects from ARVET built the structure in partnership with the community,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

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The Children\u2019s Corner, hosted by the Mathare Environmental Conservation Youth Group, is in Mulago Kubwa, in Mathare.<\/p>\n

As the music starts up and the dancing begins the Master of Ceremonies, Gerry Lumumba, yells over the microphone in Swahili, \u201cThis is your space. It\u2019s the Children’s Corner!\u201d The young children cheer loudly and start dancing. He encourages them concluding, \u201cSo anytime you want, or anytime you feel shy, you can come here and play, because it\u2019s your space!\u201d<\/p>\n

UN-Habitat\u2019s Global Public Space and Youth Empowerment Programme<\/p>\n

Public spaces for children and youth play a vital role in ensuring their overall wellbeing in the cities and communities especially in the most marginalized areas. UN-Habitat\u2019s Global Public Space Programme and its Youth Empowerment Program aim to improve the quality of public spaces worldwide. Public spaces are sites which are accessible to all and include parks, streets, pavements, markets and playgrounds. Good public spaces enhance community cohesion and promote health, happiness, and well-being for all citizens.<\/p>\n

Child infront of the new Childrens<\/strong>
Corner in Mathare<\/strong>
[UN-Habitat\/Douglas Ragan]<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n