So yes I haven’t posted in almost 2 weeks, mainly because I have been flat-out a. sick and b. travelling to Nairobi. Having said this, on the research side I haven’t been doing nothin’!.
1.I have nearly finished my fist comp!! You can read the most recent version here. Or, you can jump to the end, and read my conclusion, which of course will give meaning to your life 
(and allow you to seem interested in what I am doing if we ever meet somewhere).
Conclusion
Mapping has been used as a key methodology to engage youth in urban planning. First used by Lynch (1971[WR1] ) in the GUIC program in the 1970s, mapping provided a tool in which young people were able to use their innate ability to map their own local environments (Blaut, 1987), and in doing so, increase their awareness and knowledge of their communities (Lynch, 1971; Hart, 1979). This knowledge in turn better enabled them to engage in formal planning processes. With the passing of the CRC in 1989 (UN, 1989) there was a growing movement to engage youth in issues that directly impact their lives. Tools and methodologies were developed (Driskell, 2002) with the aim to enhance youth engagement. Mapping became one tool to engage youth in realizing their rights, a process which was often challenging due to the unwillingness and/or lack of understanding of those working in government (Chawla et al., 2005; Checkoway, 2003; Driskell et al., 2001; EYA, 2003; Gerson, 2007; Gurstein et al., 2003; Horellis et al., 2002).
Beginning in the 1990s, mapping was further refined and became a tool of choice for community development workers and youth agencies who sought to directly effect community decision-making and planning processes, especially with marginalized groups in both the developed and developing world (Amsden & Van Wynsberghe, 2005; Blanchet-Cohen, 2006; Gerson, 2007; Hurley, 2007; Lozano et al., 2005; Lifecycles, 2008; UN-HABITAT, 2008; UN-HABITAT, 2011; Wridt, 2010). During this period there was an increased use of geo-spatial technologies as a way to improve the output of mapping processes, allowing young people to produce a professional product, output in a way that was more easily incorporated into planning processes. With the growth of geo-spatial technologies, mapping became the central methodology around which programs were developed. Maps were created that reflected youth perceptions on a range of issues—from crime to health to recreation—with youth from a range of populations such as aboriginals, immigrants, refugees, and slum dwellers. These maps allowed young people to enter into a dialogue with planners and governments with the goal of advocating for more services and activities for young people delivered in a more efficient and effective way.
In conclusion, mapping has long been recognized as an important tool, both for young people’s personal development and the development of their community. The basic mapping concept has not changed substantively since their use by Lynch (1979) and Hart (1979), that being the facilitating of young people to use their innate geo-spatial abilities to better understand and engage in their communities. What has changed is the ability of young people, on their own and with the support of adult allies and experienced youth, to project their spatial understanding of their community into formalized planning and governance processes, and through the engagement in these processes advocate for their needs. Mapping as a method further realizes young people’s rights to affect change in issues of importance to themselves, thus bettering the lives of all.
2. I have as well been working working working on research on urban youth. This is for a report I am doing on youth employment for the Governing Council of UN-Habitat. If you are interested in my bibliography so far please click here Cities if Youth Bibliography.
3. Lastly, I met with the wonderful gang at MapKibera. Great time. More on that later.
Related Articles
- 365 Days-31 ~ Youth Action! … Where? (365tomythesis.com)
- 365 Days-15/16 ~ Research, Ethics and Kids (365tomythesis.com)
- Hilary A. Doe: All or Nothing: Youth Turnout Year-Round or Maybe Not at All (huffingtonpost.com)
