The United Nations has designated every 31st of October as World Cities Day. The Day is expected to greatly promote the international community’s interest in global urbanization, push forward
cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities and addressing challenges of urbanization, and contributing to sustainable urban development around the world (urbanoctober.org)
It is a day in which the General Assembly “decides to designate 31 October, beginning in 2014, as World Cities Day, invites States, the United Nations system, in particular UN-Habitat, relevant international organizations, civil society and all relevant stakeholders to observe and raise awareness of the Day”
FACTS ABOUT THE WORLD CITIES DAY.
Goal: GOAL 11; Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Establishment: 27th December,2013
Commencement: 2014
Date of Celebration: Every 31st October.
General Theme: Better City, Better Life.
2017 Theme: Innovative Governance, Open Cities.
This year, the World Cities Day seeks to exchange and showcase innovative practices around the world in urban planning, building and management, and discuss how to further implement New Urban Agenda.
UN Habitat's Participatory Slum Upgrading Program reveals the laudable efforts of the United Nations to improve the slums, what can you do as an individual?
WHAT YOU CAN DO
1. Take action for the slums to make them develop as the rest of the city is.
2. Technological development in slums. Keep the slums abreast with the rest of the world, think of innovative ways to introduce technology a slum near you
3. Education in slums: many slum dwellers cannot afford to go to school or get quality education. Volunteer to teach in slums, no time is too little to contribute to the education of a fellow human.
4. Waste management : Waste management poses a serious problem in slums many do not have the knowledge or resources to dispose Waste effectively and sustainably. Donate a trash bin, engage in sanitation exercise or teach effective waste management in a slum around you.
5. Health Awareness: the living conditions in slums pose serious health risk to the dwellers, volunteer to create health awareness or take a health exercise in a slum through donation of materials, free medical services, volunteer to run periodic health checks in slums among others.
6. Improve livelihoods (skill acquisition): volunteer to empower slum dwellers with skills (catering, bead making, photography, hair dressing and so much more), statistics show that slums are economically vibrant and contribute to about 85% of employment opportunities given the young population of its dwellers.
7. Call on stakeholders to create innovative ways to develop our cities through urban planning,building and management
Taking steps to improve the slums will bring about inclusive cities.
Glaring inequality and inequity in our cities is a ticking bomb which willl explode to destroy all we have built in the past years.
The exclusion of slums in urban development will one day unsettle us in our comfy homes! Hit the slums today! Make a change!
Keep the cities sustainable, inclusive and resilient! Live on sustainable practices!
Thank you for taking time to read and share this post. Should you have any questions, comments or suggestions do not hesitate to use the comment box.
Please visit and follow us on our social media accounts:
Facebook: The Nineteen Initiative
Instagram: @thenineteeninitiative.
Twitter: @19_thenineteen.
THIS BLOG claims no credit for any images posted on this site unless otherwise noted. Images on
this blog are copyright to its respectful owners. If there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you and do not wish for it appear on this site, please E-mail with a link to said image and it will be promptly removed.
