We very strongly believe that the problems of the urban poor can only be solved by the urban poor, not by anybody else. The urban poor will be the change-agents of the city.
			Jockin Arputham, a long-time squatter activist in Mumbai

Last year saw a milestone in human geography – the number of people living in urban centres rose to 3.3 billion people which means that for the first time in history, more people are living in cities than in rural areas.

The magnetic pull of cities, offering better jobs, improved housing, better healthcare and education, has proven irresistible to many billions seeking a better life. By 2030 the UN estimates towns and cities will be home to more than 5 billion people.

Whilst life is not easy in rural environments, particularly where subsistence agriculture is still predominant, rural lifestyles offer some security (such as space to grow food and vegetables), that is often not available in big cities. In many countries where urban poverty is greatest, there is no comprehensive government welfare system. If we do not act quickly, billions of people could fall through the cracks.

Fact 1: The number of people living in urban centres rose to 3.3 billion people which means that for the first time in history, more people are living in cities than in rural areas.

Fact 2: In 1990, almost half the urban population in developing regions were living in slums. By 2005, that proportion had been reduced to 36 per cent. Slum conditions are defined as lacking at least one of four basic amenities: clean water, improved sanitation, durable housing and adequate living space.

Fact 3: By the year 2030 more than two billion people will live in squatter communities. That will be about one person in four living on land that’s officially owned by others in the poor communities that now surround cities around the globe.

Be aware: Discover how young people living in the favelas (slums) of Sao Paulo in Brazil are using creative and performance art to boost their own self esteem and teach the community about respect and human rights. Read the case study on the Centro de Cultura run by Movimento de Defesa.

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