Abstract Objective: To measure dietary intakes of young children aged 12–24 months and to determine the impact of poor diets on stunting. Design: A quantitative food-frequency questionnaire was adapted, tested and standardised. Trained enumerators conducted in-depth interviews with the mothers/caregivers of the children. Forty stunted children in urban informal settlements and 30 stunted children in rural areas were selected and pair-matched with controls. The data were captured on the Food Finder Program of the Medical Research Council. Results: In both urban and rural areas, the diet of stunted and non-stunted groups did differ significantly and all diets were of poor nutritional quality. Conclusion: Diets in both areas resembled the recommended prudent diet, i.e. low in fat and high in carbohydrates. Poor quality diets were not the primary cause of stunting.

Few countries have ever had the opportunity to rethink their architectural dogma as abruptly and radically as South Africa since the few years leading up to the democratic elections of 1994. With only a few exceptions, the pre-democratic South African architecture of the 20th century has always lacked a unique identity. But, coinciding with trends towards Critical-Regionalism and ‘green’ initiatives, the emergence of a new South Africa has inspired the profession as a whole to search for new directions.

After the fall of communism in Eastern and Southeastern Europe in 1989 the countries that had been under socialist rule underwent a process of political, economical and social reforms and changes. These changes also had a major impact on the process of urban planning; creating a disruption in previously held planning ideas and patterns and causing a brake with the former planning system. In this context new approaches to planning arose, as did new challenges and problems, such as the phenomenon of informal and unplanned settlements. This study seeks to give some answers to the origins and causes of the development of informal settlements in Belgrade as well as inquiring how planning authorities are currently dealing with the problem in light of the large-scale new construction project Belgrade Waterfront. The data was collected using an inductive, qualitative approach through interviews, observations and by examining secondary sources on the topic. The results indicate a city still struggling with finding a functional planning system, scarred by wars, sanctions and an ongoing refugee crisis and with a government that too often prioritizes grand building projects over meeting the needs of its citizens.

<p>This thesis explores the shifting cultural identities of young Owambo migrants living in Babilon, an informal settlement on the outskirts of Windhoek, Namibia. Through an investigation of their social, cultural and economic lives, I show how these young people invoke their Owambo-ness, but how they also transcend their ethnic identifications through engaging in an emerging Namibian youth culture, which cuts across rural-urban, ethnic, and socio-economic divides. I argue that young migrants from Ovamboland, who intend to escape their poverty stricken rural homes and arrive on packed busses, bringing with them few possessions and great expectations, constantly shift and resituate their cultural identities while trying to make a living in the city. These young people are eager to engage fully in a better life and hope to find employment in the urban economy. For many, however, this remains just that &ndash / hope. In their daily lives, the young migrants replicate, reproduce and represent rural Owambo within the urban space. Using the examples of &lsquo / traditional&rsquo / food and small-scale urban agriculture, I explore how their ideas of Owambo-ness are imagined, enforced and lived in Babilon. I argue that although migrants identify themselves in many ways with their rural homes, and retain rural values and practices to a large extent, this does not mean that they would remain &ldquo / tribesmen&rdquo / , as earlier, how classic studies in Southern African urban anthropology argued (Mayer 1961 / Wilson and Mafeje 1963). They also appropriate &ldquo / ideologies&rdquo / and practices of the emerging Namibian youth culture, especially popular local music and cell phones. My study thus shows that the migrants develop multiple, fluid identities (with reference to Bank 2002) / they identify concurrently with the urban and the rural and develop a synthesis of both. The thesis is based on ethnographic research, which was conducted between February and May 2008. During the fieldwork, I engaged daily in informal discussions with many residents of Babilon, and carried out life history interviews, focus group discussions, and in-depth interviews with key research participants.</p>

<p>This thesis explores the shifting cultural identities of young Owambo migrants living in Babilon, an informal settlement on the outskirts of Windhoek, Namibia. Through an investigation of their social, cultural and economic lives, I show how these young people invoke their Owambo-ness, but how they also transcend their ethnic identifications through engaging in an emerging Namibian youth culture, which cuts across rural-urban, ethnic, and socio-economic divides. I argue that young migrants from Ovamboland, who intend to escape their poverty stricken rural homes and arrive on packed busses, bringing with them few possessions and great expectations, constantly shift and resituate their cultural identities while trying to make a living in the city. These young people are eager to engage fully in a better life and hope to find employment in the urban economy. For many, however, this remains just that &ndash / hope. In their daily lives, the young migrants replicate, reproduce and represent rural Owambo within the urban space. Using the examples of &lsquo / traditional&rsquo / food and small-scale urban agriculture, I explore how their ideas of Owambo-ness are imagined, enforced and lived in Babilon. I argue that although migrants identify themselves in many ways with their rural homes, and retain rural values and practices to a large extent, this does not mean that they would remain &ldquo / tribesmen&rdquo / , as earlier, how classic studies in Southern African urban anthropology argued (Mayer 1961 / Wilson and Mafeje 1963). They also appropriate &ldquo / ideologies&rdquo / and practices of the emerging Namibian youth culture, especially popular local music and cell phones. My study thus shows that the migrants develop multiple, fluid identities (with reference to Bank 2002) / they identify concurrently with the urban and the rural and develop a synthesis of both. The thesis is based on ethnographic research, which was conducted between February and May 2008. During the fieldwork, I engaged daily in informal discussions with many residents of Babilon, and carried out life history interviews, focus group discussions, and in-depth interviews with key research participants.</p>

Masters of Art / This thesis explores the shifting cultural identities of young Owambo migrants living in Babilon, an informal settlement on the outskirts of Windhoek, Namibia. Through an investigation of their social, cultural and economic lives, I show how these young people invoke their Owambo-ness, but how they also transcend their ethnic identifications through engaging in an emerging Namibian youth culture, which cuts across rural-urban, ethnic, and socio-economic divides. I argue that young migrants from Ovamboland, who intend to escape their poverty stricken rural homes and arrive on packed busses, bringing with them few possessions and great expectations, constantly shift and resituate their cultural identities while trying to make a living in the city. These young people are eager to engage fully in a better life and hope to find employment in the urban economy. For many, however, this remains just that - hope. In their daily lives, the young migrants replicate, reproduce and represent rural Owambo within the urban space. Using the examples of 'traditional' food and small-scale urban agriculture, I explore how their ideas of Owambo-ness are imagined, enforced and lived in Babilon. I argue that although migrants identify themselves in many ways with their rural homes, and retain rural values and practices to a large extent, this does not mean that they would remain "tribesmen", as earlier, how classic studies in Southern African urban anthropology argued (Mayer 1961; Wilson and Mafeje 1963). They also appropriate "ideologies" and practices of the emerging Namibian youth culture, especially popular local music and cell phones. My study thus shows that the migrants develop multiple, fluid identities (with reference to Bank 2002); they identify concurrently with the urban and the rural and develop a synthesis of both. The thesis is based on ethnographic research, which was conducted between February and May 2008. During the fieldwork, I engaged daily in informal discussions with many residents of Babilon, and carried out life history interviews, focus group discussions, and in-depth interviews with key research participants. / South Africa

Masters in Public Administration - MPA / This study examined the institutional challenges facing the City of Windhoek in the provision of water supply and sanitation in the Havana Informal Settlement. Like most cities in developing countries, Namibia is faced with the triple challenge of poverty, unemployment and inequality, even though Namibia after its liberation developed several policies to ensure that equitable service delivery is provided to all its citizens. Approximately 60% of the city’s population resides in informal settlements, with inadequate and poor service delivery such as sanitation and water supply. External factors such as climate change amongst others have a huge impact in a water-scarce country such as Namibia on attaining the sustainability of water resources.

This paper attempts to provide experimental evidence on fire prevention and risk aversion among urban informal settlers using lottery choice data with real monetary prizes. The paper estimates the risk attitudes of a sample of 174 individuals from an informal housing development in Cape Town. The empirical analysis is performed within the expected utility theory specification, assuming constant relative risk aversion (CRRA) defined over the lottery prize. We tests the hypothesis that risk averse individuals will take precautionary measures in as far as possible to mitigate the risk of fire to their household. We find that individual-level fire prevention measures that are within the means of the households to effect, such as making sure that matches, lighters and paraffin are kept out of reach of children, is correlated with risk aversion, but measures, such as building of homes at least 3-5 meters from the neighbours, does not seem to be within the choice set of low-income informal dwellers. Our results further indicate that subjects who engage in fire prevention/fire safety strategies that require the "most effort" (that are most effective and costly) are significantly more risk averse relative to subjects engaging in fire safety measures that need "least effort". Contrary to expectation, distance from the main road, informal electricity connection, and the use of paraffin for lighting, heating and cooking are not correlated with risk aversion, indicating that irrespective of the risk profiles of decision makers, low-income households are often forced to make choices that increase their exposure to fire hazards.

In the rural village Umoja one can witness a reaction to the unequal society; the women opposed the deep-rooted cultural habits and created their own dream space, a place designed through the eyes of a woman. A village ruled by women, built up by their needs. The Umoja women’s way of life is very controversial and a huge contrast to the rest of the country. Looking at Nairobi, and the informal settlements the situation is completely different, but the dream about an equal space is the same. In this thesis we are looking at how architecture can work with the social issues about equality, focusing on the public room in one of the larger informal settlements – Korogocho. Due to the density the only space that is public is the street. The streets become the only space for interaction, as well as the place for political, economic and social activities. Through observing, analysing and interacting it is clear that the streets are mostly claimed by men. In combination with high levels of unemployment, crimes, drugs and alcohol creates a very insecure public sphere, especially for women and children. These vulnerable group needs new context that is not limited to the private home. Through a series of spatial interventions, we are interested in how architecture can question this norm, by understanding the street as a public area and analysing how it is used and can be used in the future.

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this study we examine the role of spiritual identity awareness in communal reading from 1Timothy 5:1-16 with the marginalized women in the Zama-Zama informal settlement. A case study of the text was done amongst women from diverse contexts where they gather as a unique study group. The study focused on the meeting of different women to read, interpret and discuss the Biblical texts with one another. Communal reading creates a safe space for these women to take part in an intercultural conversation. Individuals from diverse contexts are given an opportunity to express themselves communally. This intercultural conversation space is theoretically based on the joint presuppositions of Feminism and African hermeneutics. The physical and sexual violence these women have experienced has a direct effect on their spiritual identity awareness and ordinary life. In chapter two the fundamental presuppositions of both Feminism and African hermeneutics are explored. These will serve as the hermeneutical framework of the study. The voices of the marginalized women will be heard. In Feminism we place the emphasis on the voice of the individual and a group within a certain context. African hermeneutics, on the other hand, highlights through the communal reading a save space in which these voices are heard. Within this safe space it was possible for the marginalized women of Zama-Zama to let their voices be heard both communally, but also as unique individuals. Chapter three discusses a multidimensional exegetical framework for the study. The focus is on communal reading and interpretation of the text. The intercultural conversation in this study is conducted in terms of communal reading and interpretation of 1 Timothy 5:1-16 with the marginalized women in Zama-Zama. The interpretation history of the text is also part of this chapter. The joint presuppositions of Feminism and African hermeneutics and their contexts are discussed here, with the position of women in the Mediterranean world and church. The dominant discourse in the texts is the role of the widows in the church and community with specific reference to the role of hospitality/caring, the interpretation of stories of hope and above all the incarnation in the body of Christ as identified by the women of Zama-Zama. With 1 Timothy 5:1-16 as conversation document and the dual hermeneutic framework as starting point, we discuss the empirical component and exegetical framework of the study in the next chapters. Chapter four focuses on the theoretical framework of the study. The hermeneutical model of intercultural Bible interpretation of Kessler (2004), Hofstede’s (2001) culture theory as well as MacDonald’s (2005) structural models on spiritual identity awareness and development, are investigated here. Some key terms are spotlighted and discussed in more detail, such as culture, identity, spirituality and spiritual identity awareness. In chapter five we focus on the methodology, in particular the research design and research approach. The participant selection for the diverse study group is also important. The research process and the data collection techniques are also discussed here. The data that are collected in the intercultural conversation are then analysed qualitatively. The analyses and research result are discussed in chapter six. The different appendices reflect the detailed information and data that were collected in the study. The summary and implications of the study are the focus of chapter seven. All the diverse voices, the literature study, the unique context of the marginalized women in the text as well as the women of Zama-Zama, are summarized here. The intercultural conversation space was theoretically based on the joint presuppositions of Feminism and an African hermeneutics. The physical and sexual violence against these women has a direct effect on their spiritual identity awareness and ordinary life, as shown by the study. In the conclusion to this study all the diverse discussions converge and an attempt is made to present a reflective interpretation of how spiritual identity awareness functions in the intercultural Bible reading process. We discover in the study that the women, usually the victims of physical and sexual abuse, engage in a positive way towards a new and creative lifestyle. They make a difference in their own lives as well as in the community as well-respected and passionate women. The intercultural conversation space is a valuable instrument for establishing social transformation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie word die rol van spirituele identiteitsbewuswording deur kommunale lees ondersoek. ’n Gevallestudie van 1 Timoteus 5:1-16 onder vroue in Zama-Zama informele nedersetting word gedoen, waar gemarginaliseerde vroue uit diverse kontekste byeenkom. Die studie fokus op die bymekaarkom van die vroue en hul saam-lees en interpretasie van die Bybelteks. Daar word gefokus op die konsep van interkulturele Bybel-lees (kommunale lees) wat geproblematiseer word soos dit uit die saamgestelde raamwerk van Afrika en Feministiese-hermeneutiek ontwikkel word. Die fisiese en seksuele geweld teen dié vroue het moontlik ’n direkte invloed op hulle spirituele identiteitsbewuswording en alledaagse lewe. In hoofstuk twee word die Feminisme en Afrika-hermeneutiek bespreek. Dit dien as die hermeneutiese raamwerk van die studie. Die stemme van die vroue word hoorbaar. In die Feminisme word die belang van die stem van die individu binne ’n bepaalde konteks beklemtoon. “Afrika-hermeneutiek” stel die kommunale ruimte voor, waarin dié stemme tot hulle reg kan kom. Binne die veilige ruimte wat geskep word, kan die gemarginaliseerde stemme van die vroue en unieke stem van die indiwidu tot haar reg kom. Hoofstuk drie handel oor die kommunale (leesproses) van 1 Timoteus 5:1-16 onder vroue in Zama-Zama. Die interkulturele gesprek fokus op die saam-lees en interpretasie van die Bybelteks as gespreksdokument. Daar word na die teks en inhoud gekyk. Die fokus in die teks val op die weduwees en hoe hulle hanteer is. Die rol wat gasvryheid/versorging, die interpretasie van stories van hoop en “die inkarnasie” in die geloofsgemeenskap speel, is ook deur die vroue verreken in die leesproses. Deur die kommunale lees van die teks het die vroue hul eie, asook gesamentlike inhoud en betekenis daarvan, weergee. “Feminisme” en Afrika-hermeneutiese konteks word ook hier verreken asook die posisie van vroue in die Mediterreense wêreld en vroeë kerk. Met 1 Timoteus 5:1-16 as gepreksdokument en die tweeledige hermeneutiese raamwerk as uitgangspunt, word die empiriese komponent en die teoretiese raamwerk van die studie in die volgende hoofstukke beskryf. In hoofstuk vier word daar aan die teoretiese raamwerk van die studie aandag gegee. Die hermeneutiese model van interkulturele Bybelinterpretasie van Kessler (2004), Hofstede (2001) se kultuurteorie, asook MacDonald (2000) se strukturele modelle oor spiritualiteitsbewuswording en ontwikkeling word hier verreken. Daar word ook aandag gegee aan die omskrywing van sleutelterme soos kultuur-, identiteit-, spiritualiteit- en identiteitsbewuswording. Hoofstuk vyf handel oor die metodologie. Hier word daar aandag gegee aan die navorsingsbenadering en ontwerp. Daar word ook gefokus op die seleksie van die deelnemers. Die navorsingsproses en data-insamelingstegnieke word ook hier verreken. Die analise en bespreking van die navorsingsresultate word in hoofstuk ses aangespreek. Die kwalitatiewe data wat ingewin is tydens die konkrete interkulturele gesprekke, word hier geanaliseer en bespreek. Verskillende Bylae bevat die detail inligting wat ingesamel en verwerk is tydens die studie. Die gevolgtrekking en implikasies van die studie word in hoofstuk sewe hanteer. Al die stemme wat gehoor is, die literatuurstudie, die unieke konteks van die gemarginaliseerde vroue, asook hulle saam-lees en interpretasie van die Bybelteks word hier gereflekteer en saamgevat. “Feminisme” en Afrika-hermeneutiese konteks is verreken, asook die posisie van die vroue van Zama-Zama wat deur die kommunale saam-lees en interpretasie van die Bybelteks, nuwe perspektiewe ontwikkel het. Daar is bevind in die studie dat die vroue wat gewoonlik slagoffers van fisiese en seksuele geweld was, ’n positiewe belewenis en groei ervaring beleef het ten opsigte van hul spirituele identiteitebewuswording en lewensuitkyk. Die veilige interkulturele gespreksruimte wat ontstaan het in die navorsinsproses was ‘n besondere instrument wat ingespan was ten einde sosiale transformasie te bewerkstellig.