Development

Case study 1

Kibera in Nairobi is one of the biggest slum in Africa. The media usually show Kibera as a dirty, overcrowded and inappropriate place for living. Because of such perceptions of Kibera, most of the help there is provided in the form of financial support to the inhabitants to relieve the suffering caused by serious problems there. Unfortunately, many NGOs in Kibera have a tendency to work according to principle of “fast repair”. However this form of solutions does not bring any improvements to the situation . The problems are not acute, but chronic and these kinds of problems cannot be solved immediately, but need long-term initiatives. It is a pity, because people in Kibera have the knowledge and skills needed to initiate the change from inside. Their voice should be taken into account and their participation in the whole process is crucial.