Glocal Annual Magazine 2020 Cities and International Development Perspectives from the Field

Glocal International Development

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem 1 Above: Antribo, Madagascar Front Cover: Luanda, Angola Back Cover: Antananarivo, Madagascar Photos By: Roni Rushansky Editors: Liel Maghen and Shaya Bonstein Graphic Design: Amit Ben-Haim

2 Table of Contents

4 Cities and Development from a Glocal Perspective Dr. Reut Barak-Weekes

6 Note from the Editors Liel Maghen and Shaya Bonstein

Climate Change, Urban Migration, and Tribal 9 Communities: a Cycle of Marginalization Jacob Sztokman and Rachel Gerber

Participation in Public Space: 14 a Model for Urban Development and Social Justice Kali Silverman

Slums and Informal Settlements: By the People and for 19 the People: A New Approach for Slum Upgrading Alon Cohen Lifshitz

Bet Shemesh as a Model for 25 Rapid Urban Development and Sustainability Gilan Miller-Gertz

Designing for Childhood: 29 What’s Good for the Children is Good for All Deborah Rahmane 33 Reclaiming Space in a Divided City Tariq S. Nassar and Liel Maghen

What it Means to Learn Hebrew and Arabic in Jerusalem 38 Elianne Kremer

Urban Development in Ramallah: Between Now and 42 Then, a Vanishing Childhood Memory Ahmed Yasin

3 Cities and Development from a Glocal Perspective

Dr. Reut Barak-Weekes Academic Head, Glocal International Development Program

In recent decades, human development provision of housing and services to all parts of has advanced together with the process of the population. urbanization in most countries around the world. In addition to national and regional plans to Since 2007, more people globally live in cities improve housing conditions, transport routes rather than rural areas.1 City life offers economic or sewage systems in the urban centers, many opportunities, social networks, innovation, and countries invest in improving living conditions hope for social mobility. Urban dwellers can and opportunities in the rural areas, in order to often achieve improved health and education reduce residents’ incentives to migrate to cities. services compared with rural residents; enjoy a While most municipalities aim to find structured, rich and diverse cultural life; and can build new long-term solutions and a path for urban upgrading social networks and skills. and renewal, oftentimes their capacities to act However, the process of urbanization also puts depend on the wider institutional framework in enormous pressures on urban infrastructure the country, the degree of inequality and diversity and many city migrants suffer from unsafe living in the city, and the resources available. Some conditions, lack of secure and decent work, or solutions are developed from the bottom–up, access to services and the socio–economic by residents and entrepreneurs who answer to mobility they planned to reach. local needs. These range from informal education With increasingly congested urban centers new initiatives to informal public transportation, or development challenges arise in the areas of: the use of waste for construction or art and living conditions, legal status, waste management, others. At the same time as these solutions can creation of new employment opportunities, and improve the living conditions of the public, they keeping good hygiene and sanitation conditions; should not replace structured answers by local to mention a few. governments, which need to take responsibility With the adoption of the SDGs (Sustainable over the wellbeing of their populations. In Development Goals), significant attention was some cases the real challenge is to design and put on the need to build inclusive, safe and construct solutions which incorporate the benefits resilient urban centers. Countries around the of bottom–up initiatives, and give them the world have understood the need for inter– structured, institutional support. sectoral collaboration, public participation and Interestingly, in addition to providing services

4 and opportunities for improvement of livelihoods, planning processes and the promotion of various cities offer channels of linkages and connections initiatives. They urge us to continue to look at between diverse communities. Living side by side the people themselves, and ask if all parts of and using the same resources forces communities the population succeed to benefit from city life. to overcome suspicion and prejudice and allows Clearly, much advancement has been made in the development of new joint initiatives. Joint this direction, but much more is left to be done. activities increase the sense of similarity over I am deeply grateful to the editors of this the fear of the “other”. Both government and magazine, Ms. Shaya Bonstein and Mr. Liel non–government entities should take active Maghen, for their great investment in editing steps to strengthen these activities, which can this publication. I wish to also thank the authors reduce tension and conflicts. themselves, who were willing to share their This 2020 edition of the Glocal Magazine focuses knowledge and experience, and work together on the relationship between development and with the editors to improve their text and adjust the urban space. Glocal alumni and students it to the needs of the publication. I wish you an investigate the impact of urbanization, urban enjoyable and thought–provoking read. renewal and development on people’s lives and relationships. The analysis presented in this magazine shows that cities are much more than buildings and streets. Choices in the design and planning of cities have the power to join communities, overcome social and political barriers, and contribute to adult and child wellbeing. The writers in this magazine offer a critical look at the process of urbanization,

1 World Bank. (2007). More Than Half the World Is Now Urban, UN Report Says. Retrieved from: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2007/07/11/more-than-half-the-world-is- now-urban-un-report-says

5 Note from the Editors

More than half the population of the world and should be at the center of analysis in the live in urban areas. By 2050, the proportion development field. Already, cities are the hub will have risen to two–thirds, and will include for mobilization and civil unrest movements three–quarters of the developed world. Even across the world. Cities are at the heart of the though urban settings are relatively a new ongoing civil movements against authoritarian phenomenon in human history, they have already regimes across the Middle East, and the sites transformed the way we live, work, travel, and for continuing protests against racial and police build social networks.1 violence in the United States. However, this urban development trend is But, cities can also be ecosystems for social and unequal. Today, a third of all urban dwellers live economic entrepreneurship and a potential vehicle in informal areas (“slum households”)2, created for confronting the climate crisis: sustainable by the rapid migration to cities. This migration urban living, water conservation, urban food is pushed by diverse factors, including climate production, and sustainable development of change, ethnic conflict and the desire to improve housing are all at the focal point of plans for living conditions. The high density levels in new achieving sustainable international development. mega cities exacerbate these social challenges, Especially in the current era, defined by the impacting on quality–of–life expectations. This global coronavirus pandemic and strict quarantine cycle puts immense pressure on infrastructure, regulations, there is an increasingly relevant health services, and other social amenities — in question about the future of our cities: will they turn contributing to rising levels of air and water manifest the inequality of the global economic pollution, and deteriorating health conditions in systems and thus become centers of tension, local communities.3 discrimination, alienation, and solitude; or will they Thus, cities can become the extreme manifestation offer a modern version of community living, thus of economic inequality and systemic discrimination, becoming the necessary alternative for living, particularly through the expansion of informal where sustainability will be achieved? areas. As home to more than half the world's We started work on this edition of the magazine, population, city economies generate more than which looks at urbanization from an international 80% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP). development perspective, with these questions In some countries, the differential is immense: in mind. Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya, generates In the magazine, you can find different 20% of the country’s GDP even though it is perspectives on cities and development, drawn home to just 9% of the country's population.4 from the experiences around the world of Glocal As the urbanization trend intensifies, it is clear alumni. How sustainable development in the city that cities will be key in determining our future of Bet Shemesh (Israel) can inspire other cities

6 willing to explore this route; how designing for expressing ideas in the world of development. cities for children can meet the needs of many It is now time for me to move on, and to pass other populations, and promote equality; the the torch to my fellow Glocal alumni, Ms. Shaya importance of public participation processes in Bonstein. I am certain that she will continue this city planning, and the ways that this can benefit important project in the best way possible, and local populations and visitors. that she will guide the magazine to new and We invite you to read about the impact of climate significant achievements. It has been an honor change on work migration patterns of the Katakri to lead this magazine, and I am excited to see people in India, and about the strategies that how it continues to develop. residents of informal areas take in order to deal In common with our previous editions, the articles with the many challenges they face. Explore with published here were drafted and shaped through us, across two articles, the reality of Jerusalem as a peer review process, the writers partnered with a divided city: one exploring how public spaces readers from the Glocal alumni community to can become change makers when combined with develop their ideas. This participatory approach community collaboration and social work; the supports our aspirations, of using the magazine other investigating how the process of learning as a tool for internal community development, local languages of separated communities in and for expressing the principles of openness Jerusalem, can be turned around to bring them and community work that we believe in. closer. Finally, the urban history of Ramallah is We hope that you will enjoy reading this magazine, considered in light of its rapid urbanization over and that you will gain new points of view about recent decades. the fascinating topic of cities and urban areas This issue of the Glocal Magazine is the fifth and as a developing human habitat. last issue that I, Liel Maghen, will be editing. Over the years, this magazine has become a central tool for our community, for working together and Liel Maghen and Shaya Bonstein

1 Ritchie, H. & Roser, M (2018) Urbanization. Retrieved from: https://ourworldindata.org/urbanization 2 UN-HABITAT. (2003). The Challenge of Slums-Global Report on Human Settlements 2003. Retrieved from: https://www.un.org/ruleoflaw/files/Challenge%20of%20Slums.pdf 3 Ritchie, H. & Roser, M (2018) Urbanization. Retrieved from: https://ourworldindata.org/ urbanization#urban-slum-populations 4 Runde, D. (2015). Urbanization Will Change The (Developing) World. Retrieved from: https://www. forbes.com/sites/danielrunde/2015/02/24/urbanization-development-opportunity/#34e1bdd66ca3

7 From the Field Climate Change, Urban Migration, and Tribal Communities: a Cycle of Marginalization

Jacob Sztokman and Rachel Gerber

Climate change in India has created waves of internal migration, with a devastating impact on rural communities — particularly the most vulnerable members, women and children. Rachel Gerber and Jacob Sztokman describe the cycle of deprivation and marginalization that this led to — a prompt, should one be needed, for more assertive steps to protect the environment.

The connection between climate change and of climate change. While this phenomenon has urban migration in India is well known and been tracked for decades, there are many side documented. It presents across all facets of life effects of this forced relocation, with varying in the central–western state Maharashtra, and in social impacts on the migrant children and Mumbai its capital where Gabriel Project Mumbai families. (GPM)1 operates. The dry season has become In Maharashtra State, there are a large number prolonged, with record high temperatures and of “scheduled tribes,” indigenous people who droughts. The rainy season too has intensified, historically experienced marginalization in Indian heavier rainfall over extended periods causing society. A specific example is the Katkari tribe. The floods which harm crops, livestock, homes, British Raj singled out the Katkaris, discriminating infrastructure, and transportation. With the rising against them and labelling them as criminals. This cost of staple food items, and the decreasing systemic criminalization and marginalization led ability of farmers to sustain their families on their to very high poverty rates among the members crop yield alone, urban slums are witnessing an of the tribe.2 They are commonly relegated to influx of migrants or “climate change migrants.” less fertile plots of land, smaller hamlets, and are The people forced to migrate tend to be from the placed at great distances from water sources. poorest and most socially vulnerable sectors of Today, Katkaris population3 are classified by society, most severely impacted by the outcomes the Indian government as Vulnerable Tribal

8 Photo: Hemant Pawar

Katkari women planting rice

Groups. However, despite the new classification, but this is better than the almost non–existent which is intended to improve their access to employment opportunities available in the villages social benefits, Katkaris still experience high during the eight to nine months off–season. One rates of poverty, and restricted access to basic of the most detrimental effects of this seasonal infrastructure such as potable water, electricity, migration pattern is the consequent lack of and latrines. access to education for the tribe’s children. When Four major socio–economic factors have their parents migrate to work in brick factories, inflicted extremely harmful effects on the Katkari the children do not attend school, and instead communities in Maharashtra: join their parents in working. Thus, many of the children are only enrolled in school for part of 1. Education: the year; by their return for the next school year, Many Katkaris farm for part of the year; but they have fallen behind, and find it difficult to because this alone cannot sustain them and keep up with their classes. their families, to cope with their economic reality In the GPM village schools, it was very clear that they are pushed to migrate to the cities and the Katkari children were falling behind; there urban slums, to make bricks and to work as day were not progressing in their studies, and had laborers.4 Laboring only provides an extremely the lowest attendance rates in the government low income, which keeps them impoverished; school system.

9 “Climate change has had a dramatic impact on the Katkari tribe, resulting in prolonged migration, lack of access to education, child labor, all with detrimental ramifications for community health.”

2. Family ties: severe consequences for women’s health Another common practice among Katkari families specifically, especially if this is undertaken soon is for male family members to migrate to cities and after childbirth. slums for work, leaving the women and children Often times, men who return from working in in the villages. This leaves women vulnerable to the city have been exposed to poor living and sexual and physical abuse, especially in areas working conditions; this leads to poor health, where there are scant police and government preventing them from taking on work in the future protection services. Entire generations of children due to illness and physical condition. Because grow up unable to develop strong connections the men are often away from their families for with their fathers. In addition to parenting alone, extended periods, they commonly return with women must do all of the manual farm labor and STDs, which they then pass on to their wives. livestock care alone. They need to walk long The absence of economic opportunities in the distances to fetch water, gather animal feed, villages has created a situation which is eroding and collect firewood — which is physically taxing, the social fabric of the Katkari tribe. Women sometimes dangerous, and with potentially must maintain the family and farms without their Photo: Hemant Pawar Hemant Photo:

Children receiving daily nutritious meals

10 husbands; children grow up without their fathers, 10 to 12; couples cohabitate from the day of or if they migrate with their family, without access engagement. to education. • Women return to work as soon as five days after childbirth . 3. Katkari Maternal and Child Health: • Women do not have access to nutritious food Amongst Katkari women, there are very high rates during pregnancy and in the postpartum of maternal and child mortality and morbidity. period; their diet tends to be plain rice with A 2009 survey of Katkari mothers revealed that a salt, both before and after delivery.6 third of all children born died either in infancy or early childhood. Of the 139 women surveyed, 121 4. Nutrition (87%) had lost one or more children; 55 women Katkaris are subjected to seasonal food insecurity (40%) had lost two or more children; 19 women even in better years; more often, they face (14%) had lost three or more children. The causes prolonged food insecurity and scarcity, as well as of death reported in the study included low birth micro-nutrient deficiencies and malnutrition. 47% weight, fever, pneumonia, measles and mumps, of households reported facing food shortages diarrhoea, and a few cases of tetanus; access during a particular season or time in the previous to healthcare resources would have prevented year.7 The main meal of the day for most Katkaris the vast majority of these deaths.5 (men, women and children) is the evening meal, Additional causes of child mortality among the which they cook after returning from working Katkaris include: in the fields. As their socio–economic standing • Katkari girls are married early, at the age of worsens, so too their health and nutrition status — Photo: Hemant Pawar

To continue the education of Katkari children, GPM pays for their stay in the village while their parents migrate for half a year for work.

11 often times propelling ongoing migration to the Jacob Sztokman graduated from Glocal in urban slum areas. 2016. He is the founding director of Gabriel In conclusion, as an already vulnerable group in Project Mumbai (GPM), a community development India, the Katkari tribe has suffered from lack of organization working with vulnerable communities access to resources for centuries. This situation in slums and under-served villages in India. has been exacerbated by the impact of climate Jacob is grateful for the knowledge he gained change. Climate change has had a dramatic in the Glocal program, which he uses in his work impact on the Katkari tribe, resulting in prolonged with GPM. migration, lack of access to education, child labor, all with detrimental ramifications for community Rachel Gerber has a Master's in International health. The negative effects of climate change on Development from Clark University, and is a the Katkari people can also be seen among many former Associate Director of Gabriel Project other tribes in India, and among marginalized Mumbai (GPM). Currently, she is the Senior communities around the world. Program Manager at Tevel b'Tzedek.

1 For more information: www.gabrielprojectmumbai.org 2 A. N. Weling (1934). The Katkaris: A Sociological Study of an Aboriginal Tribe of the Bombay Presidency. Bombay Book Depot. 3 According to the Census of India 2011, in Maharashtra there are 285,334 Katkari (small numbers of Kat kari also live in the neighboring states of Gujarat, Karnataka and Rajasthan). 4 S. Waghmore & B. Jojo (2014). Socio-Economic Issues Facing Katkaris. Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Retrived from: https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s3c8758b517083196f05ac29810b924aca/ uploads/2019/11/2019121727.pdf 5 Masoom (2009) on Child Mortality and Related Health Issues amongst Katkaris, Unpublished Report. 6 Masoom (2009) on Child Mortality and Related Health Issues amongst Katkaris. Unpublished Report. 7 S. Waghmore, B. Jojo (2014). Socio-Economic Issues Facing Katkaris. Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Retrived from: https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s3c8758b517083196f05ac29810b924aca/ uploads/2019/11/2019121727.pdf

12 Analysis Participation in Public Space: a Model for Urban Development and Social Justice

Kali Silverman

Tackling urban inequalities requires a plural approach, drawing from community knowledge and experiences. But it can sometimes be a challenge even to harness this resource. Kali Silverman presents the “Ladder of Participation” as a means of shaping a sustainable and practical response to social problems.

In attempting to resolve the growing challenge of interaction and improve a community’s quality urban inequalities, we must actively account for of life” (Silberberg, 2013, p.2)1 highlights both the distribution of resources within three main the place and the making; the process is the categories: housing, transportation, and public key factor. To understand how communities can space. Whereas housing and transportation become involved in the making and re-making are heavily bureaucratized systems entrenched of their own public domain, I reference Sherry in government policy, citizens can wield some R. Arnstein’s “Ladder of Citizen Participation.” influence over their public spaces. Public This concept frames community engagement participation in the public domain can positively within urban public space development initiatives, influence the development of the environment how the level of involvement affects the for, and with, all its inhabitants. As part of the project itself, as well as the community’s own effort to build safer, more inclusive, equitable, development. Once a development initiative has and more productive cities, development outlined its explicit goals for the public space as practitioners must learn how to include local well as the community’s engagement, it can then people in the planning process; the question be evaluated for its effectiveness, sustainability, here is how citizens can be co–opted and utilized and impact. effectively. Placemaking, the deliberate shaping Community development is not linear; it is a of the public environment “to facilitate social dynamic and ongoing process, in which various

13 Photo: Kali Silverman Kali Photo:

Neighborhood teens take guests on a tour to their new green space, the Outdoor classroom, a part of a newly developed network of public spaces. Urban95 Bogotá Crezco con mi barrio pilot project, Bogotá, Colombia, 2018

stakeholders, approaches, decisions, and encourage community action, facilitate solutions lead to concrete actions. It requires political mobilization, help prevent crime and constant attention and effort. The relationship support the socialization of young people.” between places and their communities, similarly, is (Rogers, 2017, p. 23)2 “not linear, but cyclical, and mutually influential.” (Silberberg, 2013, P.11). It is the task of progressive Reciprocally, the design of the public realm development practitioners to view this relationship reflects and shapes values, culture, and social as a unique asset in the planning process, rather structure, and thus reinforces social hierarchies. than fighting against it. Jane Jacobs, urban Social injustice is inseparably tied to spatial activist and author of The Death and Life of Great injustice. As Peter Marcuse urges, “social injustices American Cities (1961), urges us to examine the cannot be addressed without also addressing essential role of public spaces in cities, their spatial aspect.” (2010, p.77)3 Desired change “The spaces between buildings can foster in the public domain is not just determined by connections of distinct and influential the spatial change itself, but also by the social kinds. They shape neighbourhood ties. changes that occur within the space. Public space They mitigate against loneliness. They can development projects around the world take on

14 “Without community participation, we ignore the social injustice of the space, and newly renovated public space initiatives fall flat. They end up only addressing the visible issues, while ignoring the socio-cultural aspects of space, the way residents use the space, and how they maintain the space over time.”

the big goal of creating behavioral changes in Furthermore, when development practitioners the users of public space. These changes cannot pay attention, there emerges “a critical difference alone be expected to result from the spatial between going through the empty ritual of changes made in the planned environment; in participation and having the real power needed order to have a real impact, the change must to affect the outcome of the process.” (there, take place from within the community itself. p. 216) Many government entities and NGOs Without community participation, we ignore tasked with development may believe that they the social injustice of the space, and newly work with goals and methods of community renovated public space initiatives fall flat. They participation; but a closer look suggests that the end up only addressing the visible issues, while reality of many of these initiatives exists in the ignoring the socio–cultural aspects of space, “informing” and “consultation” stages of citizen the way residents use the space, and how participation, both “degrees of tokenism” as they maintain the space over time. Through Arnstein explains. understanding various levels and methods of Arnstein’s ladder of community participation involving community participation, we begin is composed of eight rungs divided into three to think intentionally about how urban design categories, from the least participatory to the impacts communities and vice versa. most: Sherry Arnstein defines community participation as “a categorical term for citizen power.”4 Arnstein continues: “It is the redistribution of power that enables the have–not citizens, presently excluded from the political and economic processes, to be deliberately included in the future. It is the strategy by which the have–nots join in determining how information is shared, goals and policies are set, tax resources are allocated, programs are operated, and benefits like contracts and patronage are parceled out. In short, it is the means by which they can induce significant social reform which “Partnership” enables the community to negotiate enables them to share in the benefits of the with traditional power holders; in this new affluent society.” (Arnstein, 1969. p. 216) dynamic, power is redistributed with the help

15 of community consensus-building, creating a holds full responsibility for planning and managing relationship in which planning and decision– the project. The general objective for community making responsibilities are shared. Through engagement should be to situate it in the top “Delegated Power” and “Citizen Control,” three “Degrees of Citizen Power,” the green– disenfranchised citizens obtain the majority of colored rungs of Arnstein’s ladder: Partnership, decision–making seats, and/or full managerial Delegated Power, and Citizen Control — even power. In “Delegation,” the public takes the whilst acknowledging that these levels of power and can therefore assure accountability participation may not always be possible. to them. With “Citizen Control,” the community Arnstein’s ladder highlights not only intentionality, Photo: Kali Silverman Kali Photo:

Neighborhood teens explain plans for the Outdoor classroom . Urban95 Bogotá Crezco con mi barrio pilot project, Bogotá, Colombia, 2018

16 but transparency with the community: a tool to central to the development of the space itself. examine and decide on the role that one takes The process that the community goes through on as a facilitator of development, the role the is paramount to the end goals. The community’s community plays, as well as each stakeholders’ own development is — and must be seen as — responsibilities and expectations of participation. inseparable from the goals of the project. No matter the level of community development An inclusive public space project will only be that existed before the project — no matter the more relevant, effective, sustainable and have the level of disempowerment of the community — it greatest impact if it is conceived as an intentional is essential to believe that every community is community participation project. I believe that capable of development as long as we approach through a clearly stated, intentional community the process from their strengths, from their development approach, public space initiatives assets. Development practitioners must practice around the world will be able to create an urban with the belief that this approach can work culture of change for the future of neighborhoods for all communities, at any level of experience. and their residents, empowering the community In fact, community members are the first to members themselves to take ownership over see the type of participation they have been other aspects of their own lives and futures. invited into, the role they can play in their own development; many development practitioners underestimate the level at which a community can recognize their tokenness or the sham nature Kali Silverman graduated from Glocal in 2019. As of the development. part of the program, she undertook her internship There is often a disconnect between the in Bogotá, Colombia, working on the worldwide ways in which a community is engaged in a Urban95 project to create healthy, safe, and development project, and the community’s engaging urban public spaces for children and own development; viewing this engagement their families. Currently, she is working part- as a means to an end, instead of as an end in time with Mural Arts Philadelphia, facilitating and of itself. When development prioritizes the community processes focusing on public art, community’s process, the community becomes public health, and restorative justice.

1 Silberberg, S. (2013). Places in the Making: How placemaking builds places and communities. Massachusetts: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Urban Studies and Planning. 2 Rogers, B. (2017). In defence of the realm: 10 principles for public space. In R. Brown, K.Hanna & R. Holdsworth (Eds) Making good – shaping places for people. (pp. 23-31) London: Centre for London. 3 Marcuse, P. (2010). Spatial Justice: Derivative but Causal of Social Justice. In B. Bernard, P. Gervais- Lambony, C. Hancock and F. Landy (Eds) Justice et injustices spatiales. (pp. 76-92) Nanterre: Presses universitaires de Paris Nanterre. 4 Arnstein, S. R.(1969). A Ladder Of Citizen Participation. Journal of the American Planning Association, 35(4), 216-224.

17 Analysis

Slums and Informal Settlements: By the People and for the People: A New Approach for Slum Upgrading

Alon Cohen Lifshitz

The development of informal urban settlements is a perennial challenge for residents and municipal authorities — a challenge compounded by the absence of consultative processes and shared objectives. Alon Cohen Lifshitz presents two grassroots initiatives, seeking to give slum dwellers a voice and a stake in their own futures

Preface The involvement of the slum and shack dwellers Urbanization and urban poverty are on the rise, in improving their situation has given them power, especially in the Global South, where almost and has given them a platform for negotiating with one billion people live in slums and informal authorities. The involvement of the communities settlements. Initiatives directed toward the has created a new discourse in urban planning; alleviation of poverty and the regulation of the need to respond to the real needs of the urban areas have been ongoing processes for communities has encouraged participatory decades. But these have had little or no impact planning activities. But notwithstanding on improving the situation of either slum dwellers community participation in planning processes, or slums. The role of communities in directing the conventional method of urban planning with their own development in informal settlements informality is facing challenges. has changed over the years, and has been crucial in successfully addressing the problems of urban Slums and informal settlements poverty and slums. Community participation The growth of urban areas in the Global South has become a key factor in collecting data, has not always been within the framework of a and the main force preventing demolitions and city plan, or in line with the specific allocation of forced evictions. land for development. In the context of thousands

18 Photo: AlonCohen-Lifshitz

The community of the informal settlement of Kuvukiland, Namibia, in a discussion about an upgrading plan that they were involved with migrating to cities on a daily basis, most will end rich people live in urban areas), urbanization up renting a shack in an informal settlement — has created a different form of poverty. This or, if they are lucky enough, will find a vacant is especially true in the Global South with lot to build a shack of their own. This is the regard to the growth of informal settlements, reality for many millions of urban residents, in which many urban residents suffer from typically concentrated in informal settlements acute poverty. The situation of poor people in that emerged spontaneously in both the inner urban areas is closely related to their informality. and outer parts of cities. People living in these The poor are unable to extricate themselves settlements experience the most deplorable of from poverty because it is difficult for them to living and environmental conditions. They face access urban services. With poverty becoming significant hardship, and lack access to many an increasingly urban phenomenon, many cities urban amenities and services. Because informal are significantly challenged in their understanding settlements are usually located in the outer and management of human settlements, and in parts of urban areas, and because municipal their responses to their poorer residents. In this authorities tend to neglect their existence, these context, one cannot overstate the importance settlements and their residents are also excluded role that organized communities of the poor can from the economic social, political and cultural play in defining, negotiating and addressing the spheres of the city. issue of urban poverty.

Urban Poverty Knowledge is power While there are strong connections between The policy and political options with regard wealth and urbanization, (and, apparently, most to low–income populations living in slums and

19 informal settlements are generally limited to According to SDI — Slum/Shack Dwellers just four types of policy responses, deployed International, a global social grass-root movement sequentially or simultaneously in numerous cities of the urban poor, linked in a network of across the Global South. These options are community-based organizations in the Global preventing them, removing them, upgrading South — community planning activities build them, or ignoring them. political capital for communities, both internally The lack of accurate data about informal and externally. Within communities, activities settlements is one reason why authorities like enumeration (household–to–household often resort to demolishing these structures socio–economic surveys) and mapping create and evicting their residents. So far, municipal space for communities to identify developmental authorities have generally failed to develop the priorities, organize leadership, expose and framework needed to collect the requisite data. mediate grievances between segments of the Therefore, they tend to resort to bias estimations community, and cohere around future planning. in order to lead to their preferable solution — Through its affiliations, SDI has developed an most often forced displacement and evictions. activity which is giving the slums and shacks In order to find the right way to understand dwellers the power, motivation and hope to the context of informal settlements and spur change their reality: the collection of data positive change, there is a need to improve the depicting a full picture of informal settlements, knowledge and data. No–one knows the situation conducted by residents and with the support of the informal settlements better than the shack of the local federations of shack dwellers and dwellers themselves. Thus, their participation local NGOs. The motive and idea behind this across all phases of the data collection process activity is very simple, and based on the idea is crucial. that knowledge is power. Photo: Alon Cohen-Lifshitz Alon Photo:

Members of Muungano Wanavijiji federation from the slum of Mukuru, Nairobi, Kenya

20 “The role of communities in directing their own development in informal settlements has changed over the years, and has been crucial in successfully addressing the problems of urban poverty and slums.”

SDI affiliations in Namibia SDFN have profiled more than 300 informal This article focuses on two local organizations settlements across Namibia (about 40% of the in Namibia, the Shack Dwellers Federation of entire population living in informal settlements), Namibia (SDFN) and Namibia Housing Action working with many of them through enumeration Group (NHAG). and slum upgrading. Established in 1998 by a number of housing groups The enumeration is based on an agreement of all that had come into being in the preceding years, stakeholders to lead a process that will change SDFN works to improve the living conditions of the reality of the shack dwellers, including the low-income people living in shacks, rented rooms community, the organizations, the authorities and and without accommodation, with a particular sometimes the landowners and other concerned emphasis on promoting women's participation. bodies. The process of enumeration is simple NHAG, the second organization, is a Namibian and encompasses field and desk activities that service organization, and supports the SDFN can be done by and with the communities with in achieving its mission by facilitating changes support by NHAG and other members of SDFN in the livelihood prospects of urban and rural from other regions poor through pioneering pro–poor development The enumeration is based on an agreement of all approaches. NHAG and SDFN are part of Slum/ stakeholders to lead a process that will change Shack Dwellers International (SDI), and work with the reality of the shack dwellers, including the other SDI affiliations all over the world across a community, the organizations, the authorities and range of initiatives including exchange programs sometimes the landowners and other concerned and collaborations, and by sharing best practices. bodies. The process of enumeration is simple, and NHAG and SDFN take a broad perspective in encompasses field and desk activities which can their activities, though the profiling of the informal be carried out by the communities, with support settlements, and implementing specific processes from NHAG and other members of SDFN from and enumeration within these communities with other regions. the objective of slum upgrading. As a first step, and based on the profile that The goal of this profiling initiative of the informal marks the boundaries of the community, the settlements in Namibia1 is to establish an community pursues a sequence of activities information base, to be used to direct locally including dividing the built–up area into blocks, driven settlement upgrading and tenure security numbering the shacks, marking each shack with in the urban and urbanizing areas of Namibia. GPS coordinates, and completing questionnaires In parallel, the information from the profiling incorporating general and personal data together exercises is fed into a national data base, with information about the development needs where it guides policy, strategic, and financial of the community. The community then analyzes support. Over the last thirty years, NHAG and the collated materials and data, deriving statistical

21 Photo: Alon Cohen-Lifshitz Alon Photo:

Members of the community of the informal settlement of Kuvukiland, Namibia, discussing their plan with Melky Sedeck from Namibia Housing Action Group (NHAG)

information and conclusions that directly relate process — critical in initiating negotiations with to the development of the community. These the authorities. include the number of households, available The next phase after collecting and analyzing services and infrastructure in the community, the data is the slum upgrading, specifically the means of transportation, and the most pressing process of planning with the communities. The development needs for the entire community. collaborative planning processes in some cases Enumerations provide the means by which data involves students from planning departments in can be used to inform local planning, but also universities, or teams of local young architects and the process by which consensus is built. This planners. In some cases, professional architects guarantees that the inclusion of all residents also seek to collaborate in specific and relatively is negotiated. Participatory enumerations also small projects of slum upgrading. create opportunities for self-empowerment. Residents can initiate and retain control of the Slum upgrading process, and thus ensure that it addresses their According to SDI2, there is no one–size–fits–all needs, aspirations, and basic human rights. approach to upgrading informal settlements. Through such initiatives, residents gain confidence That said, even though each settlement is and a sense of ownership of the planning unique in its challenges and characters, they

22 do share a number of common characteristics. Slum upgrading is not simply about providing Upgrading is any intervention that improves water, drainage, or housing; it is also about putting the physical conditions of a settlement, which into motion the economic, social, institutional, in turn enhances the lives of its inhabitants. SDI and community activities needed to reverse affiliation organizations, operating across 33 downward trends in an urban area. countries, are working to enhance the lives of Ultimately, upgrading efforts aspire to create slum and shack dwellers in specific ways and at dynamic communities with a sense of ownership, different levels of intervention. entitlement and inward investment in the area. The theory of change of SDI is that the communities Informal settlement upgrading programs should are not simply part of the process; rather, urban be part of citywide reform and institutional residents are the main agents generating the building initiatives, and not separated reform process of their social and geographical situation. programs. Addressing the informal urbanization Whenever these communities engage directly challenge can be a win–win situation for all with policy makers and government duty bearers, parties concerned; improvement programs do they are engaging with some of the more complex not only benefit the urban poor, but also the city issues associated with urbanization. Through as a whole. Additionally, effective approaches to this engagement, SDI has found that concerns informal settlement upgrading must go beyond around land tenure, housing, livelihoods, service addressing the specific problems of settlement, provision and citizenship can be identified, and should also deal with the underlying causes politically negotiated, and resolved in a pro- of urban poverty. poor way. Planning and upgrading in situ requires more effort from municipal and state authorities, and demands a different, alternative understanding Alon Cohen–Lifshitz is a planner and architect of the informal settlements. The focus is on working with the NGO "Bimkom–Planners for developing potential opportunities, rather than Planning Rights.” He graduated from Glocal in treating slums and their residents as a problem. 2019; his internship was with two organizations in Namibia and Kenya from the “Slum/Shack Epilogue Dwellers International.” Alon is passionate Finally, although informal settlements are about working with communities, and believes unwanted and perceived as a burden on urban they should have a significant role in their areas, informal settlements are economically, development. Currently, he is also working with spatially, and socially integrated with their urban the NALA foundation, on projects addressing contexts. Without them, most developing cities the eradication of neglected tropical diseases are unsustainable. and other poverty–related illnesses.

1 Informal Settlement Communities And The Shack Dwellers Federation Of Namibia. (2009). Community Land Information Program (Clip)Profile Of Informal Settlements In Namibia March 2009. Retrieved from: https://knowyourcity.info/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/NAMCLIP091.pdf 2 Know Your City. (2016).Our Practices for Change. Retrieved from: https://knowyourcity.info/our- practices-for-change/

23 Local Perspective Bet Shemesh as a Model for Rapid Urban Development and Sustainability

Gilan Miller-Gertz

Urban development initiatives often pit competing interests against one another — ultimately, to the detriment of all. The city of Bet Shemesh stands as an exemplar for a collaborative and sustainable approach. The difference? An approach that recognizes community needs, and facilitates access to key resources.

Bet Shemesh, a city in Israel’s periphery, has in 1950’s in Israel’s Jerusalem District, with become a model for rapid urban development immigrants from Morocco and other Sephardic and sustainability since the inauguration of its countries as its first citizens. In the 1990’s, a new mayor, Dr. Aliza Bloch, in November 2018. In large influx of new immigrants from Ethiopia, a little more than a year, the city has made deep the former Soviet Union, and English-speaking inroads toward improving its social, economic, countries moved in, along with modern Orthodox and ecological sustainability. Bet Shemesh is and Haredi Israelis. The 2019 population was a development town that has been neglected 118,676, and by 2025, the population is expected for many years, so actual change occurs at an to expand to 250,000 residents, thanks to a uneven pace; nevertheless, many improvements masterplan that includes multiple new housing have been set into motion. Other cities can units and geographical expansion into the emulate Bet Shemesh’s rapidly implemented and neighboring hills. multi-pronged approach toward strengthening Home to the 3rd poorest neighborhood in the its sustainability. country, Bet Shemesh earned a “2” (out of “10”) Bet Shemesh has long been a poor and non- in the 2018 national socio-economic ratings sustainable city, in the sense that it was unable conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics. to meet its own needs without compromising the Between 2008 and 2018, Bet Shemesh was Israel’s ability of future generations to meet their needs. fastest growing city, with new neighborhoods The modern city of Bet Shemesh was founded constantly being planned and built. However,

24 Photo: Pikiwiki

Bet Shemesh view

little consideration was given at the time to One of Dr. Bloch’s first initiatives as mayor was the infrastructure needed to sustain the influx to give voices to her residents, by implementing of new residents. At the time of Dr. Bloch’s large group interventions. This is a highly useful election, the city was noticeably lacking in multiple community tool in Asset–Based Community areas, including transportation, business, access Development, as it involves stakeholders and to healthcare, environmental cleanliness, and makes use of local resources. Advertisements culture. throughout the city invited residents to contribute their thoughts in open–space meetings on the Social Sustainability topics of transportation, development of public Social sustainability means that all people can spaces, and development of business initiatives, attain basic necessities and have access to the among others. Learning their needs and opinions resources required to keep their families and helped focus the municipality’s efforts toward communities secure and healthy1. In a socially establishing sustainability. sustainable community, the community’s leaders Plans to expand Bet Shemesh into formerly ensure that all citizens’ rights in the labor, uninhabited areas had already been in place cultural, and personal arenas are respected. To before Dr. Bloch’s election. She turned the achieve that, leaders have to take the needs and municipality’s focus toward upgrading existing aspirations of all different types of populations areas as well, unveiling an urban renewal plan to into account, addressing factors as diverse as improve social sustainability for current residents quality housing, educational opportunities, access of Bet Shemesh. The plan includes replacing to healthcare, cultural opportunities, and the low–rise buildings with multiple–occupancy opportunity to voice concerns. high-rise apartment buildings, refurbishing public

25 "Change is difficult to implement, but by addressing many aspects of social,economic, and ecological sustainability at once, a city can rapidly develop and progress toward achieving sustainability."

spaces such as the run–down commercial area in citizens to maintain their independence and the city center, and renovating public buildings, have access to the resources that they require, such as schools. such as secure sources of livelihood, to meet Multiple types of populations from enormously their needs. Bet Shemesh and its surrounding diverse socio–economic backgrounds live in Bet towns have limited employment opportunities, Shemesh. The social integration of the various necessitating travel far from the city to earn a groups is a challenging objective; but addressing living. The municipality has begun to tackle this the unique cultural and educational needs of each problem by developing a new industrial area group would go a long way toward minimizing and heavily investing in marketing the empty inter–group tensions. To that end, the municipality lots to industries. Some of the lots have been has planned a schedule of cultural events that sold, creating new local job opportunities. For will take place throughout the year, serving a example, La Pastilla, which controls 95% of Israel’s range of age groups and sectors. The city also dough market, is opening a factory, and the resumed construction on a long-abandoned CelloPark parking app is opening its customer cultural center, and has created a municipal service center in Bet Shemesh. soccer field. Additionally, the municipality The municipality is also engaged in increasing continually addresses the lack of classroom its revenue. It has published a tender for the space by expanding or building schools for all installation of solar panels on the roofs of 50 sectors of the population, placing emphasis on public buildings in the city; this will save money ensuring that each child in the municipality has and generate income for the city to invest in an appropriate educational placement. educational initiatives. In addition, the city has Access to healthcare is a vexing problem for begun the construction of a new municipality Bet Shemesh residents, given that the closest building, which will allow it to terminate its current hospital is more than half an hour away by car. wasteful practice of paying exorbitant rent to a The municipality has addressed the immediate private entrepreneur for use of the city’s offices. need by inaugurating direct bus lines between Bet Shemesh and two hospitals in Jerusalem, Environmental Sustainability purchasing two new ambulances, and opening Environmental sustainability means that a branch of the Ministry of Health in the city. ecological integrity is maintained, and the earth’s Furthermore, it has made progress in developing a environmental systems are kept in balance long-term solution, by entering into an agreement while the natural resources within them are with Jerusalem’s Hadassah hospital to build a consumed at a rate whereby they can replenish healthcare facility within Bet Shemesh. themselves2. Dr. Bloch began her first day as mayor riding through the city on a garbage Economic Sustainability truck, representing her dedication to a cleaner A city with economic sustainability allows its city. Since then, she has implemented several

26 city-wide cleaning campaigns, and the city has the Department of Transportation, asking it to spent millions of shekels on in-ground garbage take immediate action by adding buses and bus bins in commercial areas, strengthening cleaning lines. Through this action, Bet Shemesh hopes to services, augmenting gardening services in surmount the barriers to public transportation and public areas, and a plan to renew all the streets radically boost its environmental sustainability. of Bet Shemesh. Other cities that are severely lacking in Furthermore, the Bet Shemesh municipality is sustainability practices can learn from Bet battling to rapidly improve its stagnated public Shemesh’s efforts. Considering how to attend transportation system, so that a private car will to the personal and social needs of each and not be a necessity for every resident. It has every sub-group of residents in the city will already added more than 200 parking spots at drive efforts toward sustainability. Change is the train station, and plans to drastically improve difficult to implement, but by addressing social, access to the train station, as currently, there is economic, and environmental aspects at once, a no drop-off point for train passengers! city that is suffering from multiple deficiencies can Due to the significant increase in the city’s rapidly develop and progress toward achieving population, entire neighborhoods have insufficient sustainability. public transportation. The buses are old and frequently break down, and are so overcrowded that they are often forced to skip stops along their routes. Moreover, the 2017 tender for Gilan Miller-Gertz is currently a student at Glocal. public transportation operators in Bet Shemesh She is a resident of Bet Shemesh, where she runs is currently frozen, due to a dispute between a non-profit organization. She is also licensed bus manufacturing companies. Therefore, the as a Clinical Social Worker in the state of New municipality has filed a court petition against Jersey, USA.

1 Mehan, A. & Soflaei, F. (2017). Social Sustainability in Urban Context: Concepts, Definitions and Principles. Couceiro da Costa, et al. (Eds) Architectural Research Addressing Societal Challenges. London: CRC Press. 2 University of Maryland Office of Sustainability. (2020). How Would You Define Environmental sustainability? Retrieved from: https://sustainability.umd.edu/how-would-you-define-environmental- sustainability

27 Analysis Designing for Childhood: What’s Good for the Children is Good for All

Deborah Rahmane

What’s life in the city like for a three-year-old? The everyday experiences of children is a crucial perspective in urban development initiatives, it gives unique insight into the challenges faced by populations with specific needs, promotes equality, and can shape an effective framework for long-term change.

Urban95 is an initiative launched by the Bernard approaches to learning and growth, recognizing Van Leer Foundation, which seeks to promote the interrelation between young children’s the needs and requirements of early childhood physical and intellectual well-being, as well as their as a priority for the urban agenda. Urban95 socio-emotional and cognitive growth.2 In this works with urban leaders, planners, designers context, the urban space becomes an essential and managers by asking: “If you could experience element for early childhood development, the city from an elevation of 95 cm—the height because it gives children the opportunity to of a 3-year-old—what would you do differently?”1 recognize an outer world outside the privacy Now, the question that arises is why the needs of their homes, to relate to different people of early childhood should be prioritized. Aren’t from the community, and to experience a new there many other issues that take precedence reality which is completely dynamic and constantly over designing public spaces for kids? How changing. does this benefit other sectors in the society, As a result, to fully benefit from future especially the most deprived ones? opportunities in life and to become productive First of all, it is important to note that investing members of society, children, especially up to in early childhood presents a unique window of the age of six, must be enabled to play safely opportunity for addressing inequality, breaking and to explore the space that surrounds them; the cycle of poverty, and achieving more to enable this, urban practitioners must enhance positive outcomes with a deeper impact for a perspective whereby safe and healthy spaces the future generations. Recent research on brain are key indicators of successful design practice. development highlights the need for holistic What steps need to be taken in order to achieve

28 Photo: Kali Silverman

Children play as they walk next to the sidewalk on their new safe routes, part of a newly developed network of public spaces for safe mobility for children and their caretakers. Urban95 Bogotá Colombia, 2018

these outcomes in the public space? In terms of In order to decrease air pollution levels, one health, one of the main issues that cities around key principle that should engage not just urban the world face today is that of air pollution, which practitioners but also the general population is impacts children to a higher degree than the rest designing with pedestrians in mind and not just of population. The World Health Organization cars: enabling pedestrian paths and bike lines (WHO) estimates that 90% of the world’s 2 across the city, while also promoting the use of billion children—98% of children under 5 living public transportation. This change of mindset in low- and middle-income countries, including will not only decrease air pollution levels, but will 520 million children in Africa—breathe air more also create new spaces allowing for encounters polluted than the WHO’s minimum recommended among people, and will make mobility through standard. More than one in every four deaths the public space an experience in its own right of children under the age of 5 is related to and not only a means to get from one place to environmental risks3. If we aim to reduce air another. pollution, we need to take into consideration This will have a positive effect on children’s the thresholds suggested for children; we must personal development and the way they perceive make sure that everyone is taken into account, their surroundings, because it would allow them to due to the fact that along with older people, have frequent, warm, and responsive interactions they are in the most vulnerable sector of the with others, in a safe and stimulating physical age spectrum. environment4. In the illustrations below, we can

29 “It is important to note that investing in early childhood presents a unique window of opportunity for addressing inequality, breaking the cycle of poverty, and achieving more positive outcomes with a deeper impact for the future generations.”

see the drastic difference in perceptions between Moreover, designing for pedestrians also a child who walks to school and a child who is contributes to reducing road accidents: the driven to it: street, the biggest network of public spaces in the city, is in this sense conceived as a place for people, and not for cars. Nowadays, 500 children are killed yearly in road accidents, mainly in low- income countries5. As a result, if pedestrians and bicycle users become the main “owners” of the streets, then the control that cars have over the urban network will be reduced and road accidents will decrease dramatically. In addition to this, designing safe places for children where they can freely move ensures that other sectors of the population will be able to move freely as well: from old people Samuel (7) is being driven to school... to caregivers with strollers, from people with disabilities to workers who need to transport merchandise. If the public space in general and the street in particular is designed from the perspective of a 3 year old—clear intersections, well-maintained areas, and clearly differentiated spaces for walking, resting and playing—then everyone can become active users of the public space without facing risks. It is important to note that this change in

Source: Daniel Sauter, Urban Mobility Research, Switzerland Research, Mobility Urban Sauter, Daniel Source: perspective can be successfully implemented if all sectors of society, and not just professionals William (7) walks to school... from the design field, become aware of this issue and the importance of designing with the needs of early childhood in mind. The public sector, Consequently, it is important to acknowledge caregivers and their children, community center how this experience impacts children with regard workers, urban practitioners, architects and urban to their future development, and how this can planners, and residents in general all need to be affect their functioning in our community and involved in this process, for it to be successful. society as a whole, as noted before. All in all, it can be said that designing urban

30 Photo: Kali Silverman

A teen of urban95 bogotá leads school children through a playstreet day. Streets are closed and children are welcomed out for games and toys

spaces for early childhood is important because Debora Rahmane is an architect from Argentina. children are society’s future—but are also its She graduated from Glocal in 2020; as part of most vulnerable members. If we design cities her internship, she collaborated with the Urban95 for children, we are making sure we are at the project, through its Tel Aviv Foundation. She same time designing cities for all. is passionate about working towards creating healthier and more enjoyable urban spaces, making them better places for people.

1 Watanatada, P. (2018). Urban95: Creating Cities for the Youngest People. Retrieved from https:// bernardvanleer.org/ecm-article/2018/urban95-creating-cities-for-the-youngest-people/ 2 Denboba, A. D., Sayre, R. K., Wodon, Q. T., Elder, L. K., Rawlings, L. B., & Lombardi, J. (2014). Stepping Up Early Childhood Development: Investing in Young Children for High Returns. World Bank, Washington, DC. Retrieved from https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/21094 3 WHO (2018). Air Pollution and Child Health: prescribing clean air. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/ ceh/publications/air-pollution-child-health/en/ 4 Watanatada, P. (2018). Urban95: Creating Cities for the Youngest People. Retrieved from https:// bernardvanleer.org/ecm-article/2018/urban95-creating-cities-for-the-youngest-people/ 5 WHO, Save Kids Lives (2015). Ten Strategies for Keeping Children Safe on the Road. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/roadsafety/week/2015/Ten_Strategies_For_Keeping_Children_Safe_on_the_ Road.pdf

31 Local Perspective Reclaiming Space in a Divided City

Tariq S. Nassar and Liel Maghen

This paper will present the differences between the approaches towards the notion of “land,” examining the political implication of “place making” activities such as orming shared public spaces neutral of national meaning, across the city of Jerusalem

Over the last years, different organizations connection of specific people to a specific initiated projects focusing on public spaces across territory is one of the foundations of modern Jerusalem. As these projects were developed from national identities.1 As national identities are an urban development perspective, they were based on the recognition of certain mutual rights often portrayed as politically neutral. However, as which result from membership of a specific group, the local national conflict is manifested constantly the connection between nation, territory, and through spatial dynamics, any utilization of space membership rights establishes the foundations has political ramifications, especially in regards for the exclusion of others.2 Consequently, and to the power relations between the sides. In consistently, the discourse about land and the contrary to works discussing the way spatial origin of communities is constantly used as a planning has been used for maintaining and tool for the politics of exclusion solidifying the interests of one side, participatory This discourse is central in the politics of the “place making” activities can have the opposite Middle East, and has been particularly visible impact. As it shifts the meaning of the historical for the last century in the context of Israel and land to the present “place” it holds the potential Palestine. Even though this region is rich in to form new relations between the sides, offer cultural and religious diversity, its “land” has new reclamation of space and create a new repeatedly been used as grounds for exclusion. sense of agency. Consequently, local maps, drawn up by both But before utilizing the space, the conflict is Israeli and Palestinian communities or officials, rooted with the symbolic meaning of the land. represent one specific historical narrative; one When examining the use of land in the historical that connects the dots between biblical times or a context, it becomes clear that narratives about specific historic period and the present — ignoring land form the basis for national identities. As the present condition, and the new stories and various theories of nationalism explain, the new communities which have formed links to

32 Photo: TariqNassar

Community garden in the library, Wadi Jooz, Jerusalem

the same piece of land. Such representations supposed separation between populations are often used to justify discrimination, and set blurs when one assumes a geographic point of the political foundations necessary for expulsion, view.3 When one examines the geography of deportation, and evictions. the land, including patterns of transportation In Jerusalem, the combination of religious belief, and employment, separation is more difficult to national identity, and the bureaucratic modern locate, even though it is still a result of a conflict state have set the use of land as the faultline over the control of the space. Furthermore, he of the national conflict. Thus, in Jerusalem, the argues, changing the focus — from a general state of disputed territory has transformed what concept that belongs to an idea of the past otherwise could be seen as typical urban planning to a more tangible and present reality of the processes into instruments in the process of people living on said geography — may help in excluding people from their land. Local residents binding rival groups together. Such an approach in the eastern side of the city, occupied in 1967 by has the potential to detach the notion of land Israel, remain in bureaucratic jeopardy, as master from the myth of territory; but rather, through plans are not approved and local development fragmentation, productivity and instrumentality, and construction is stifled by demolition orders. it is possible to split an all–encompassing and However, according to Joval Portugali, the illegible territory into small, contextual parcels,

33 Place-making experiments in East Jerusalem hold the potential to create a kind of a bridge between the various populations and their land in the general public sphere, forming an action of “reclamation.”

enabling these to be transformed into a “place." squatter movement in Berlin, which took over Such conceptual yet practical framing can support deserted buildings and created life out of conflict, the instrumental inclusion necessary for life to urban activists search for the bureaucratic cracks take place in contested public spaces. According in order to create life in conflictual places. In to geographer Deborah Martin, focusing on Jerusalem’s Wadi al Joz, for instance, residents physical conditions and daily life experiences can were incorporated in designing a map of the reframe a place by fostering shared geographical neighborhood following the development of identities and obscuring social differences.4 a local square. In a different community, the Furthermore, when residents are incorporated neighborhood of Abu Tor, local residents in the process of designing a place, they became participated in the identification of a shared public acquainted with the possibility of creating a space and the design of inclusive symbols for it. collective vision. Moreover, in the East Jerusalem district of Sheikh Within this context, public spaces are consistently Jarrach, streets were painted or re–organized contested in Jerusalem. Yet, over the last years, in order to be more inviting for residents; new groups of residents of Jerusalem have been small squares were established, and a cleaning participating in different experiments to create crew was established. In Abu Tor and Thuri, more inclusive “public spaces”. Inspired by the these measures were even more revolutionary, Photo: https_en.urbanclinic.huji.ac.il_placemaking Photo:

Seating corner library in Wadi jooz, Jerusalem

34 Photo: TariqNassar

Sidewalk Ramp, Wadi Jooz, Jerusalem

succeeding in bringing different communities liberal and consumer locations like shopping together, painting a deserted roof and opening malls.6 Thus, in a city suffering from a violent a community garden which will create a shared and divisive conflict with its origins in a mythical space in a divided city. past, manifested in the present by the divisions Although such activities may be portrayed indicated by official planning practices, shifting as essentially a–political, as part of urban the meaning of the land from its past to its current development, or even as normalizing state, or in reimagining its future, is a new action discrimination, we see them as revolutionary. of reclaiming both the space and the narratives While, according to architect Malka Greenberg of people’s current lives. Raanan, an examination of usage patterns by Place-making experiments in East Jerusalem different communities proves the division and hold the potential to create a kind of a bridge segregation of the city,5 the urban geographer between the various populations and their land Marik Shtern argues that in a contested city in the general public sphere, forming an action of such as Jerusalem, encounters are enabled “reclamation.” After seeing deserted spaces as a only in ex-territorial spaces, for example neo- bureaucratic battlefield, place–making activities

35 enable local residents to feel that these spaces in for it to be constantly manipulated for religious, fact belong to them and that they can have a say nationalist, and exclusionary purposes. Changing in how these spaces are shaped. As long as these the focus from what was imagined to be the past new places are not demolished, these actions to what actually is suggests a transformation from empower local residents, create a new sense of land to a notion of place, and the creation of a agency and can model new partnerships across new framework for its utilization. In this regard, lines of conflict. If their development is done in place–making in a divided city is revolutionary. partnership (at least to some degree) with the As it focuses on the current lives instead of its authorities, they can also create new relations symbolic meaning, it can promote a city by the between the residents and the authorities after people and for the people, which can lay the decades of marginalization and conflict. foundations for a future resolution. In this way, step after step, place after place, more neglected residents understand that they do hold agency in the shaping of their surroundings — and with this understanding, they are empowered to be more involved. Through reframing the meaning Tariq S. Nassar is an architect and an urban of space to its present implications, a new urban planner. He is working on several projects agency can be enhanced. Furthermore, a new in Jerusalem and other areas focusing on and updated connection to the specific space Placemaking, master plans and community is created, enhancing a shared solidarity among development, with a specific focus on the East residents, even across lines of conflict. More Jerusalem neighborhoods. importantly, a focus on the present and future creates a framework that focuses on practical Liel Maghen is the co-director of the Israel/ goals and objectives, which can become the basis Palestine Center for Regional Initiatives. Since for the development of a long–term resolution. his graduation from Glocal in 2015, he has Thus, land, as we have learned, has a dual concentrated on community organizing and meaning, and is a malleable enough concept cross-community coalition building.

1 Portugali, J. (1993). Implicate Relations: Society and Space in the Israeli Palestinian Conflict. Helmstedt, Germany: Springer. 2 Gellner, E. (1983). Nations and Nationalism. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. 3 Juval Portugali, Implicate Relations: Society and Space in the Israeli Palestinian Conflict, 1996 4 Martin, D.G. (2003). Place-Framing as Place-Making: Constituting a Neighborhood for Organizing and Activism. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, vol.93, 730-750 5 Raanan, M. G. (2014). Mental Maps Compared to Actual Spatial Behavior Using GPS Data: A New Method for Investigating Segregation in Cities. Cities, vol.36, 28-40. 6 Shtern, M. (2016). Urban neoliberalism vs. ethno-national division: The case of West Jerusalem's Shopping Malls, Cities vol.52, 132-139.

36 Local Perspective — Interview What it Means to Learn Hebrew and Arabic in Jerusalem

“The limits of my language mean the limits of my world” – Ludwig Wittgenstein

This is Not an Ulpan (Tinau) is a language school Jerusalem has separate education systems for based in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. It was founded residents from the west and east sides of the city. in 2012 by a group of teachers and students who The lack of a common language for education has had decided to learn the main languages of this resulted in significant differences between the two region critically. This stance was a response to populations, and has contributed to the expanding the pedagogy of traditional Hebrew language Palestinian population living in poverty (76% of schools, which tend present the Israeli reality in East Jerusalem’s residents, including 83.4% of all a biased fashion — educating about Zionism and children, live below the poverty line). The school Judaism alone, and omitting narratives of the system in East Jerusalem must contend with a Israeli-Palestinian conflict from the Palestinian shortage of classrooms (more than 2500 below viewpoint. Tinau seeks to create a pedagogy the required number) and the highest dropout which is critical in its essence, and which engages rates in the country (1,300 every year), while with tough issues such as the military occupation confronting the imposition of the Israeli curriculum of the Palestinian territories. on the Palestinian national community of the city. According to Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics, The combination of neglected infrastructure there are 323,700 Palestinians residents of and attempts to influence the curriculum have Jerusalem, 37% of the total population of the left the East Jerusalem school system in a state city. Divisions between the populations, however, of crisis2. are perpetuated by the state. The number of Tal Janner–Klausner is a senior teacher and East Jerusalem residents applying for Israeli Jerusalem Pedagogical Coordinator with Tinau, citizenship has increased in recent years; the as well as a member of the cooperative. Born number of successful applications, however, has in Israel and raised in the UK, they moved to fallen. Palestinian residents of Jerusalem who Israel 4 years ago as a returning resident. Tal want to acquire Israeli citizenship face extremely speaks fluent Hebrew and advanced Arabic, and lengthy bureaucratic obstacles and waiting times defines them self as non–binary–something that at the Interior Ministry office in Wadi Joz1. has enabled several spaces for questioning the

37 Photo: Gal Kramarski Gal Photo:

View of the old city in Jerusalem

role of language in gender identity in Hebrew our values — because it’s democratic and not and Arabic at Tinau. for profit — I think this is very significant in itself. We met for an interview to discuss the importance So, our organization and our workplace culture of learning languages in a conflicted society, is also significant for me as a social activist… the meaning language have in daily encounters and not only the education that we do, which and the possibility of bringing individuals closer is outward facing. within a divided city. Q: Can you elaborate on how your work here Q: Tal, what does Tinau represent for you as a generates empathy among the populations in social activist? West and East Jerusalem?

A: I think it’s part of the infrastructure of social A: I think about our work less like East and West activism in Israel. There is an ecosystem of Jerusalem, influencing things at that big stage, organizations, individuals and movements that and more about the individuals who come in work for social change. We are a part of that, and the communities they influence, [an impact] supporting and enabling people to do other kinds which can ripple out. Learning a language can of work, as well as inspiring other educational be humanizing, especially if it is taught through projects3. Also, the fact that we are a cooperative, learning the culture and the society of the people that the structure of the organization represents who speak it. We have in our community Israelis

38 “Learning a language can be humanizing, especially if it’s taught through learning theculture and the society of the people who speak it.”

learning Arabic and Palestinians learning Hebrew, learn to be racist growing up here, learn to as well as people from all over the world learning be afraid of Arabs and to think that Arabic is both. Learning new languages is already a thing threatening and foreign. Even when I grew up that generates empathy, because you understand and was challenged on an intellectual level, I still people on their own terms more than on their felt it on an emotional and physical level, this own words. very deeply ingrained racism. When I started learning Arabic, I felt [the fear] melt away. I felt Q: Can you give a concrete example on how how the languages are interrelated, and not language learning can foster understanding opposing each other. between Israelis and Palestinians? Q: Have you experienced some kind of clash A: Our team members are Israelis and Palestinians4. between Israelis and Palestinians in the class Some of them are used to spending time with itself? How do you manage the power dynamics the other, some of them are less used to it. So and differences in status? we all learn about each other’s lives through working together. [From my experience] Israelis A: One of the times that there was an election, Photo: YasminRimer

Tal and her students in Tinau

39 I asked students to write about how they feel within the class connect to this objective of social about the elections. There were people in the justice and human rights? class who were Jewish, non-Jewish, Palestinian, and new citizens of Israel who would be voting A: Behind you, [there is] a map of East Jerusalem in that election. People wrote very different that draws in different layers of East Jerusalem, things. A Palestinian woman wrote, “Well, I don’t including settlements, the separation barrier, have the right to vote why should I care about checkpoints. Many people who live in West it.” There wasn’t really a conflict in the class; I Jerusalem aren’t aware of the complexity of the facilitated a conversation about [her comment], situation in East Jerusalem. Although we include which taught the others about her experience. this in our courses, it’s very difficult to measure It was more about sharing experiences than a impact in education. You plant seeds [but] you conflict, but there was tension and there were don’t know where they’re going to end up. It’s different power relations present. No one knew up to the learners. that Palestinians in East Jerusalem don’t have the right to vote in the [National] elections, so Q: Do you still believe that this is the way to a that in itself was meaningful, people learned that better future, to a fairer future? and were respectful. A: It’s one thing amongst many others, yes. I'm a Q: Why and how is “identity” important in the very optimistic person emotionally, but not very work you do? optimistic intellectually. So, are we doing things that are really making an impact on the conflict? A: When learners are learning another language, No. But do I think that we make an impact on they have to express themselves in a more people’s lives? Yes! Do I feel that we are part of limited way, maybe express themselves in a something more significant? Yes! language they feel threatened by, [a fear] that may be intensely connected to their identity; Q: Thank you so much! if they are Jewish learning Hebrew, or German learning Hebrew, that’s intensely connected to their identity as well.

Q: Tinau has a vision connected to ending the Elianne Kramer graduated from Glocal in 2017, military occupation. How does what you do and is currently the Community Manager of Tinau

1 The Association for Civil Rights in Israel. (2017). East Jerusalem: Facts and Figures 2017. Retrieved from: https://law.acri.org.il/en/2017/05/24/east-jerusalem-facts-and-figures-2017/ 2 Tatarsky, A. & Maimon, O. (2017). Fifty years of neglect: East Jerusalem Education Report. Ir Amim 3 Among others, Tinau has been cooperating with organizations like Physicians for Human Rights and the Pink Roof, providing Arabic courses by Palestinian teachers to provide with language tools and help vulnerable populations. 4 Some of the founders of Tinau are also founding members of Achvat and All That’s Left, grassroots educational organizations raising awareness of the Israeli military occupation and calling for action.

40 Local Perspective Urban Development in Ramallah: Between Now and Then, a Vanishing Childhood Memory

Ahmed Yasin

Ramallah today is a product of its history — not only centuries of continuous habitation, but also the reality of occupying and economic forces ignoring the needs of its population. Ahmed Yasin argues that urban development must be tied to local history — and the knowledge of the city’s inhabitants is an important asset in this case

The urban development and planning of Palestine brothers descended from Yemenite Christian began in the mid-nineteenth century, and has Arabs. The Hadadeens, led by Rashed Hadad, continued until today. It is noticeable that urban arrived from east of the Jordan River, near what development has always been implemented is now the Jordanian town of Shobak. Although by external forces, with little participation by the Hadadeen's migration is usually attributed the indigenous population, due to successive to fighting and unrest among tribes in that occupations of the land of Palestine. The area, a more common account is as follows: Ottoman Empire, the British Mandate, and the Rashed's brother Sabri Hadad once hosted Emir Israeli Occupation have been the main planning Ibn Kaysoom, the head of a powerful tribe in the forces — directly or indirectly — of the country region, after Sabri's wife gave birth to a baby girl. over the last century and more.1 This foreign In line with tribal custom, the Emir congratulated planning of Palestine was an inspiration for the Sabri — and asked for the infant's betrothal to his local population when designing houses and own young son, once both came of age. Sabri infrastructure; there are Ottoman and British assumed the request to be in jest, as Christian– housing landmarks across the country. In the Muslim intermarriage was not commonplace, and early 2000s, multi–story buildings became the agreed to the request in what he considered to norm for housing in the city. a similar jocular spirit. Ramallah (meaning “God’s Hill”), was founded Many years later, the Emir came to the Hadadeens in the mid–1550s by Al Hadadeen, a tribe of and demanded that they fulfil their promise, which

41 palestine-from-the-ground-up-cf4985db1082 Photo retrieved from: https://medium.com_changing-city_building-a-better- retrieved Photo

Landscape and buildings of Ramallah

the latter refused to do. Many clashes ensued Municipality of Ramallah was established. The during the following months, with assassinations town expanded slowly, and without an official on both sides. To avoid further bloodshed at the development plan. In the mid–twentieth century, hands of the more powerful Kaysoom tribe, the it suffered from negative migration abroad (to Hadadeens fled west and settled on the hilltops America, Europe, and Australia). During the of Ramallah, at the time sparsely populated by a period of the Jordanian Occupation (1950-1967), handful of Muslim families.2 The city, located 17 Ramallah evolved into a tourist destination; this kilometers north of Al Quds (Jerusalem), has now was thanks to its good weather, particularly in become one of the main cities in the West Bank, the summer, and its open, welcoming community with a population of about 70,000 inhabitants. and hospitality.4 It is surrounded by a total of 80 villages and From that period until today, Ramallah has camps, which makes the overall population of witnessed a wave of urban development. It the area around 370,000 inhabitants.3 became a central city with major political, Until the 1960s, Ramallah developed organically economic, and social entities, transforming it into from a built–up core. This village core was located the dream city of many Palestinians from across about three kilometres west of the historical the West Bank. During the Second Intifada5, main road connecting north and south Palestine many Palestinians moved to Ramallah, seeking via Jerusalem; the twin village of Al–Bireh, a jobs and better living standards. This wave of Muslim locality, was located five kilometres east internal immigration, particularly from 2006 of this important main road. In 1908, when the onward, created an urgent need for more urban population of the city was around 3,300, the development in the city: housing, infrastructure,

42 “The urban planning of the city, and the need to meet the growth, is attractive only to rich capitalist investors, who could not care less about the history of the city and the collective memory of its residents.” businesses, technology, and so on. Such In the summer, neighbors would gather to drink developments have, in my opinion, negatively tea, watch the news, and discuss the social, affected the city. Prices are increasing rapidly, economic, and political situation. The owners of social relations are disappearing, and the soul supermarkets, hummus restaurants, pharmacies, of Ramallah cannot be found anymore! and shops were all known to us. Growing up in Ramallah was a very eye– This romantic scene is no longer complete opening experience. Even though hardly any today, as the city expands to meet its population of my neighbors were Muslims, I rarely felt any growth needs. Massive housing projects, new difference. The fig, almond, and olive trees were streets, parks, infrastructure, telecommunication found everywhere — next to houses, in yards, companies, and many other developments now and on the edge of the sidewalks of almost dominate the city. These developments have every street. The old Ottoman–and English–style flipped the city upside–down. Even though they houses, with their arched ceilings and windows, contribute to a better quality of life, the figs balconies, and yards, were the landscape of and almonds are no longer there; some of the my day–to–day walks through the streets of old houses have been replaced by new multi– the old city. My grandfather’s house, which was story residential blocks and commercial centers, built in 1910, has a yard with a grape tree in it. leaving fewer spaces and yards for neighbors to aspx_id=4FmGN4a2932350993a4FmGN4 -Old-City- Photo retrievedhttps://from: www.ramallah.ps_ar_page.

Rashed Hadadeen Status, 2019

43 aarticle_25_The-Old-City- visitramallah.ramallah.ps_en_ from: https:// retrieved Photo

Ramallah old city

meet. My childhood memories and scenes have Can it preserve the societal coherence of changed! Ramallah today is not the Ramallah I Ramallah’s community? knew when I was a child. The urban planning of the city, and the need to meet the growth, is attractive only to rich capitalist investors, who could not care less about the history of the city Ahmed Yasin graduated from Glocal in 2016. and the collective memory of its residents. A development practitioner, he has worked on The continuous urban planning of Ramallah is development projects with various local and enhancing the quality of life for its residents, international organizations. Ahmed’s focus is on attracting tourists and investors, creating enhancing the capacities and opportunities of public parks, newly paved streets, and cultural young Palestinians, enabling them to take key centers. But can such development preserve roles in decision-making processes. Ahmed lives the memories and the soul of the city? Might in Ramallah, and works in Ramallah, Jerusalem, it block the beautiful views of Ramallah’s hills? Haifa, and more.

1 Abdelhamid, A. (2006). Urban Development and Planning in the Occupied Palestinian Territories: Impacts on Urban Form. Retrieved from: https://staff-old.najah.edu/sites/default/files/Urban_| Development_and_Planning_in_the_Occupied_Palestinian_Territories_Impacts_Urban_Form_0.pdf. 2 Ramallah Palestine. (2020). History of Ramallah. Retrieved from: http://www.ramallahpalestine.com/ HISTORY_OF_RAMALLAH.html .Retrieved from: http://ramallahcity.ramallah.ps/ar_page .املساحة وعدد السكان .(Ramallah Municipality. (2018 3 aspx?id=wfHrOha2935206252awfHrOh 4 Rassem Khamaisi, R. (2006). Planning and Developing a New Palestinian Urban Core under Conditional Israeli Occupation. Retrieved from: http://www.isocarp.net/Data/case_studies/710.pdf 5 Intifida: A phrase referring to the popular uprising of Palestinians against the Israeli Occupation

44 Glocal International Development is an innovative, interdisciplinary M.A. program offered by the Faculty of Social Sciences of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. This 18–month program aims to provide students with the academic theory and background, as well as professional skills and tools to work with communities across the globe. An integral part of the program is a four months internship in a developing country, which offers an opportunity to gain meaningful experience from the field. glocal.huji.ac.il

We would like to thank our partners and donors, whose support enabled us to issue this magazine and develop the Glocal Program. Specifically, we wish to thank the Pears Family Foundation, Vital Capital, Yad Hanadiv, Doran Family Foundation and Blum Family Foundation.

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