My first visit to a slum was in New Delhi. As I was led through the network of tiny alleyways, my first impression was one of considerable surprise at people’s amazing resourcefulness. Yes, living conditions were very limited. However, people had adapted to their situation in all kinds of interesting, and usually positive, ways.
This issue builds on people’s resourcefulness. Most of the articles look at major changes in the lives of slum dwellers. But this change has not always come from outside and has rarely involved outside funding. It has resulted largely from the impact of mobilised groups and communities. It has come as a result of people putting pressure on local authorities in order to receive their basic human rights in terms of access to water, shelter, sanitation and education. As some groups achieve results, so they can have a considerable impact on other new groups. The quote from a mayor in Jimma (page 5) captures the power of mobilised groups by describing them as ‘a fire’.
According to the UN, there are one billion urban slum dwellers today. By 2020 there are likely to be two billion people living in urban slums (two out of every seven people in the world). This rapid growth of urban slums means that most governments and NGOs are unable to respond adequately. This challenge is one that the church in particular must respond to with all the transforming power of our Christian faith.
Isabel Carter, Editor