Copyright: Image accredited to Robin Hammond

Child poverty is on the rise.  Poverty is a significant barrier to young people’s well-being whether this be in Dundee, across the UK or the poorest cities across Africa. Now is a timely moment therefore to consider how young people experience poverty and the impact this has for their future adult lives.  Poverty is experienced differently across the World and for many young people living in African cities their lives are lived and experienced on the streets. This creates a unique set of issues and problems for young people around access to shelter, food, safety and money to survive. Through understanding these issues we can more effectively listen to young people regarding their needs as a universal tool for influencing policy across the globe.

This talk from Dr Lorraine van Blerk from the University of Dundee, and Dr Wayne Shand from the University of Manchester explores what life is like for young people growing up on the streets through discussing an innovative longitudinal research project working in Accra, Ghana; Bukavu, DRC and Harare, Zimbabwe. The research investigates the lives of 198 young people over a three year period and takes an innovative participatory and qualitative approach. The research explores poverty, exclusion and homelessness from a capabilities perspective and aims to stimulate debate on the factors that shape life lived on the street and the representation of street children and youth in national and international policy.

The event lasts one hour, and speakers talk passionately about their work for 30 minutes before the floor is opened up to an informal discussion with the audience. All talks take place in The McManus Café, Albert Square, Dundee.

Everyone is welcome. Free. Non-bookable. Places are limited so please arrive early to avoid disappointment. Doors open at 5pm. This event is likely to last one hour.