Child Friendly Cities Research with Children in Kyzylorda

Child Friendly Cities Research with children in Kyzylorda Final Kyzylorda Report 2015 Table of Contents Summary of Results __________________________________ 3 Background _________________________________________ 4 Children’s Research Results ___________________________ 9 Ecological domain – a clean and healthy child friendly city _____________ 9 Cultural domain - a learning and playful child friendly city _____________ 13 Economical domain - an equitable child friendly city __________________ 16 Political Domain - a secure and participatory child friendly city ________ 18 Conclusions ________________________________________ 24 Copyright 2015 Citation details: Malone, K. (2015) Child Friendly Cities: Researching with children in Kyzylorda, University of Western Sydney, Bankstown, NSW, Australia. If you would like any information about this report please contact the author: Professor Karen Malone Centre for Educational Research, University of Western Sydney Mobile 0407352864 [email protected] www.childfriendlycities.com www.childfiendlyasiapacific.net UNICEF Child Friendly Cities Initiative 2 Summary of Results Kyzylorda City Kyzylorda is in the western region of Kazakhstan with a cold desert climate of hot summers and cold winters. It has a population of around 188,000 people. In modern times it has been known for its oil and gas fields and production of rice, while historically it was one of the centers of the Silk Road. The city is on the Syr Darya River, which is one of the rivers that use to flow into the Aral Sea, before it was diverted to irrigate the desert, therefore contributing to the drying up over time of the Aral Sea. Some of the older children were also concerned the issues around the drying up of the Aral Sea. The shrinking of the Aral Sea has been called "one of the planet's worst environmental disasters". The region's once-prosperous fishing industry has been essentially destroyed, bringing unemployment and economic hardship. The Aral Sea region is also heavily polluted, with consequent serious public health problems. The departure of the sea has reportedly also caused local climate change, with summers becoming hotter and drier, and winters colder and longer. Kulanbekova from Kyzylorda stated her dream for Kyzylorda was that the Aral Sea was restored and it became an important tourists attraction. She wished that the Aral Sea was not drying out and there were lots of fish. Many children from the city were concerned about the lack of greenery, especially in the outskirts areas of the town. Because the city is built in a very dry desert region it is very difficult for plants to grow and many children noted that even though their families and others in their apartment block had planted trees it took a lot of manual watering and often the plants didn't survive. Many children wanted the opportunity to go to places outside often town close to the river where they could go fishing, swim and enjoy fresh air. From the survey data we can see many positives from the children compared to other cities researched. Kyzylorda children believed they were more likely to be protected from strangers then children in the other three cities. Over 80% or 20% more Kyzylorda children then the average across the other three cities said they had learnt about children’s rights, and 82% children, again the highest said teachers in schools listened to their ideas. The area where they scored most poorly was in regards to there being garbage and smelly water lying around, only Aktau scored less. Kanat is 9 years old and form Kyzylorda she summed up many of the main sentiments from all the children in her interview where she said: “I want my house to be improved. I wish there were playgrounds near my house. Also I want there to be a playground for disabled children. I wish to have an elevator in my house. I wish trees to be planted around the house. Finally I want to have hot water in my apartment”. Many children in Kyzylorda were interested to be active in improving their city and villages. Artur, 16 years old live in the village Belkui, and stated in his interview: “I wish I could participate in construction planning near my house: a playground for children, football and basketball court, and a youth club which is necessary for youth to spend time during the day and in the evening. Our village needs a park, a fountain and an ice palace. I hope that my dream comes true”. The key changes children wanted to make their neighbourhood and their city more child friendly • Children wanted a clean environment with less garbage and dirt and more trees and flowers in their apartment courtyards. • Children wanted more parks and green spaces close to where they live so they can visit them regularly not just in the centre of the city. • Children want improved playgrounds in the courtyards and especially to ensure they that are inclusive playgrounds that can accommodate children with special needs and disabilities. • Children living out of town said they need more buses because the buses are overcrowded and it’s hard to get to school. • Children want to be included in decision-making about their city and would like to participate in the planning for change and be active in improving their city. 3 Background What is a child friendly city? A child friendly city is a place where children’s rights and needs are at the centre of good community planning and policy. It is place where adults listen to children and young people and take what they say seriously. The principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) highlight the responsibility of the States Parties to uphold the child's right to live in a safe, clean and healthy environment and the right to engage in free play, leisure, and recreation. Kazakhstan became a member of the United Nations on the 2nd March in 1992 and signed the convention on the rights of the child in 1994. The UNICEF Child friendly cities initiative started in 2006 in the Republic of Kazakhstan as the means for creating an environment where cities would begin to value the importance of implementing strategies that addressed the rights of the child. The UNICEF country office in Kazakhstan acts as a central technical advisory body to the National government and in the promotion and implementation of the CFCI. The Child Rights Protection Committee was set up in 2006 through the Ministry of Education and reports directly to the Minister. They are the main national advocates for Child Friendly Cities. The Kazakhstan Children in Cities, child friendly cities research project was implemented throughout 2014. Funded by UNICEF Kazakhstan it was a child friendly participatory research program engaging 177 children in research about their lives in the cities where they are living. The four cities where children were living included. The study was conducted in four cities of Astana, Semey, Kyzylorda and Aktau, with approximately 40 children from each city being involved. The aim of the study was to build capacity in order to create opportunities for children to be involved in collecting data about their lives in many neighbourhoods around the city. These four cities had identified they would like to develop local capacity in order to conduct research with children to compliment their national UNICEF child friendly cities recognition process. The concept of a child friendly city is not based on an ideal end state or standard model rather it is a framework with the goal of creating a city and community wide commitment to addressing the needs of children, investing in their future and creating policies and strategies to achieve this. Central to achieving this goal is the need to develop baseline data with children about lives in the city, that is, to understand how to best provide for children by identifying the gaps, issues and challenges. The study was conducted in the city with the support of local adult mentors working alongside the children who took on the role as the co-researchers. These mentors, who included local teachers, UNICEF staff, local government staff and university students, were provided with training on the child friendly cities initiative and child focused participatory research. The research methods the children used to collect their city wide data included photography, drawing, guided tours, surveys and interviews. The research was conducted with children as part of their school program with the support of the school Principals and staff. Theoretical Analysis In this introduction to some of the contemporary issues for children in cities around the globe I have endeavoured to provide some starting points for considering the theoretical areas for which the data emanating from the participatory study of child friendliness with children in Kazakhstan will be analysed. Framing this analysis is the Circles of Social Life method that begins with four domains of social practice and meaning: ecology, economics, culture and politics. The following table provides a quick sketch of the four domains and how they relate to some of the key articles from the convention on the rights of the child. The CROC is the central platform through which chid friendly cities is built and therefore is essential to always use it as the central reference point for analysis. Domains of Social Practice Example from Convention Rights of Child Ecology Article 6 —‘right to life’. —from materials and energy to Article 24 —‘right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest embodiment and food (including attainable standard of health ... adequate food, clean physical health) drinking water, consideration of dangers and risks of environmental pollution’ Economics Article 23 —‘right of the disabled child to participate equally in —from production and community life ..

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