An alarming rise in urban poverty in Hosur, a city located on the banks of the River Ponnaiyar in Tamil Nadu state, India creates big challenges for youth.
In response, HOPE International Development Agency and the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation (MCIC) launched the Sustainable Urban Centres Project.
Focused on youth, especially young girls at risk of urban poverty, the initiative provides the knowledge and skills fundamental to living in an urban setting. After-school classes, youth groups and training sessions ensure girls have the opportunity to shape a better life not only for themselves, but for their families as well.
The prevalence of urban poverty in India is exacerbated by COVID-19 and the country has been deeply impacted the pandemic. In response, the Sustainable Urban Centres project provided COVID-19 relief to students and their families in the form of PPE, sanitizer and other hygiene and sanitation-based training and activities.
In addition to COVID-19 assistance, programs introduced prior to the pandemic were carried out successfully, such as the school vegetable gardens which enabled students to learn basic agricultural skills they can apply in urban settings. The vegetables grown from these gardens are incorporated into school meals, improving nutrition and educating students about their health.
Ultimately, the Sustainable Urban Centres project is an example of a successful initiative, providing a participatory and positive learning environment that ensures urban youth are equipped to break the poverty cycle and improve their future.
