What are Squatter Settlements like, what are the issues and how can

these areas be improved?

What is next to this

image?Draw it on!

Initial Impressions of Rochina

• Rochina is a squatter settlement in Rio de Janerio, Brazil (LEDC). It is the largest in South America

• Watch the video here and complete the Initial Impressions sheet as you go.

What are Squatter Settlements like, what are the issues and how can these areas be improved?

What are the characteristics of squatter settlements?

• Squatter settlements are areas of cities in LEDC’s (usually on outskirts) that are built by people from any materials they can find (e.g. wood or corrugated iron sheets). The occupiers don’t own the land, and therefore could be forcible removed at any time.

• They are often overcrowded, high density. • They often don’t have ‘official’ services (e.g. electricity,

water). Often set their own supplies up. • They can be known as Shanty Towns or Favelas, (South

America). • Squatter settlements have emerged as so many countries

have experienced urbanisation at such a fast pace.

What are Squatter Settlements like, what are the issues and how can these areas be improved?

Photos of slums

Photos of slums

Photos of slums

What is the effect on the lives of people living in squatter settlements?

• 1. Employment opportunities are lower.

• As there are few jobs, a lot of people create their own jobs. These include selling items (e.g. charcoal, clay pots), making and repairing things, becoming cleaners, etc.

• These jobs are in the ‘informal sector’. Informal sector workers don’t pay tax and are on low wages.

• Video of informal job here

What are Squatter Settlements like, what are the issues and how can these areas be improved?

What is the effect on the lives of people living in squatter settlements?

2. HealthPeople who live in Shanty towns suffer from a high percentage of respiratory problems due to all the pollution from small informal industries as well as not having ‘clean’ fuels. 3. Overcrowded People are packed into high densities, e.g. 1m people live in a squatter settlement in Mumbai called Dharavi (this is the same population as Birmingham!). This creates a lack of space and privacy too.

How can squatter settlements be improved?

1. Self help schemes

2. Site and services

3. Local authority schemes

What are Squatter Settlements like, what are the issues and how can these areas be improved?

1. Self Help schemes

• Groups are encouraged to help improve the standard of their own homes.

• People are given the land that they live on.

• Local authorities provide the building materials for the squatter settlement dwellers to improve their own homes, they carry out their own work.

Advantages Disadvantages

What are Squatter Settlements like, what are the issues and how can these areas be improved?

2. Site and Services

• More formal as land is identified in advance and infrastructure laid (water, electricity, roads, etc.)

• Homes then built by locals with whatever materials they can find.

Advantages Disadvantages

What are Squatter Settlements like, what are the issues and how can these areas be improved?

3. Local Authority schemes

• Could be more improvements to the squatter settlement or totally new towns constructed.

• For example Barra da Tijuca in Rio. A new planned settlement on the edge of Rio designed to take some of the pressure off the growth of the main city. Has lots of services (shops, garages, schools, etc.) and is well connected to the CBD of Rio.

• Local government built and plannedAdvantages Disadvantages

What are Squatter Settlements like, what are the issues and how can these areas be improved?

Your turn

• Imagine you live in a squatter settlement like Rocinha.

• A reporter wants to write a piece for a local newspaper about what it is like living in Rocinha. He wants to know about;– Your life

– Your surroundings

– What are the good and bad points about living there

– What your family is like.

• Write down what you would say.

What are Squatter Settlements like, what are the issues and how can these areas be improved?