Comparing a rural village with an urban slum This lesson resource enable teachers to explore the comparison of urban and rural areas in an LEDC through the examples of two young people. This is presented alongside introducing students to some of the dynamics of rural to urban migration in developing countries, showing some of the pros and cons of each.
Background Most African countries, including Uganda, have a much larger rural population than urban – directly opposite to most MEDC countries where rural to urban migration has already taken place and in the UK, only around 20% of the population live in rural areas. In many MEDCs counter urbanisation, migration to rural areas, is occurring. Uganda currently has around 80-85% of its population living in rural areas. However, it is also experiencing a significant urban migration pattern with its primate city, Kampala, receiving an annual growth rate of 5.6% one of the fastest rates of any African city. Of the thousands of people migrating into Kampala each year, 60% end up in slum-like conditions. According to UN HABITAT these areas are defined as a household that cannot provide one of the following basic living characteristics: – Durable housing of a permanent nature that protects against extreme climate conditions. – Sufficient living space, which means not more than three people sharing the same room. – Easy access to safe water in sufficient amounts at an affordable price. – Access to adequate sanitation in the form of a private or public toilet shared by a reasonable number of people. – Security of tenure that prevents forced evictions. People commonly move into slums from rural areas in search of a better life, and for greater access to potential employment opportunities and services such as clinics and better schools. There may also be other pull factors such as family ties and push factors including family bereavement, loss of land, poor crop harvests and social issues such as violence or abuse in the rural area. However, many migrants to the slums will find themselves in a situation where they do not have regular employment and they are not able to save enough money to move to less insecure accommodation in the city or move back to their rural area.
Comparing a Rural Village with an Urban Slum – Urban to Rural Migration Lesson ideas Background to Urban, Rural and Migration
Introduce the group to the LEDC of Uganda using other resources on Lessons from Africa website. Discuss the difference between urban and rural in the UK and expected differences between urban and rural in a country like Uganda. What do students expect to be the percentage in each group in UK and Uganda? Remind students of the term ‘migration’ and discuss why people might migrate to another place in their home country. Remind pupils of the terms ‘Push and Pull Factors.’ Discuss what these might be in the UK for a rural family and an urban family and then what they might be in Uganda using the Background sheet.
Understanding Urban Slums and Village life – –
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Introduce the short background pieces about Isaac and Brenda to the class. Introduce urban slums to the group using the Slum Walkthrough video – pausing half way through to ask students what they have in their notes. Look at Isaac and Brenda’s daily walking journeys map, clicking on the journeys and the items on the map for more information. What do students notice? Which type of life do they think they would prefer, and what pros and cons do they notice? Scroll around the map in satellite view – what else can students notice on this view? What differences can they see?
Comparing Everyday Life
Show pupils the gallery photo set of comparison images form the village and the slum. As you show each picture ask what they can tell about people’s lives in each situation. Using the information sheets with comparison photos, in groups or pairs ask students to compare and vote on which they think is best for each area of life, urban slum or rural village. Then total the votes as a class and see which they think is preferable and why. Alternatively, cut the sheets into urban and rural columns and hand out to students. They then need to find the other half of their pair and discuss the pros and cons of each. A class vote can also then be carried out. As a class, discuss which would be best and/or list the pros and cons in a table on the board. Does this help students to understand why Rural to Urban migration is taking place? What do they think might help slow it down, or reduce the growth of slum populations?
Extension Activities Use the lesson resources and information to help students understand the dynamics of the two settings and migration through these extension ideas: -
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Write a diary entry of a normal day in the slum or village. Describe how you would feel living in each area and what your fears and hopes are. Design a poster persuading rural people not to move into slum areas giving reasons and solutions. Or, design a leaflet giving people advice if they are considering moving from a rural village to a urban slum Write a letter to local government outlining what they can do to help people migrating from rural areas as they arrive in slums. Describe what the government could do to in terms of urban planning, assistance, utilities and land rights.
