“We Know Something Someone Doesn't Know...”
Children Speak Out on Local Conditions in Johannesburg

Jill Kruger
Research Fellow, University of South Africa

Louise Chawla
Kentucky State University

Citation: Kruger, Jill and Louise Chawla (2005). "“We Know Something Someone Doesn't Know...” Children Speak Out on Local Conditions in Johannesburg ." Children, Youth and Environments 15 (2): 89-104. Retrieved [date] from http://www.colorado.edu/journals/cye/

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Abstract

This article summarizes a four-site study within the process to transform Greater Johannesburg into a child-friendly city. Applying the Growing Up in Cities model of UNESCO, it presents the voices of 10- through 14-year olds in four diverse but representative areas of the city as they describe their use of their local environments, the problems they face, and their own priorities for making Johannesburg a better city in which to grow up. Based on the children’s experiences, a number of program and policy responses are recommended, many of which will be relevant to other cities as well.

Keywords: Johannesburg, South Africa, participation, child-friendly cities, urban children, children and neighborhood