Soul Action: slums in schools...

slum survivor goes into the classroom

Spend a few lessons learning about how a billion spend a lifetime!

1 billion people – that’s one sixth of the world’s population – live in temporary settlements or slums. The United Nations estimates that by 2030, this figure will increase to 2 billion.

These numbers aren’t good.

Slum Survivor in Schools is about making that reality our reality. It’s about connecting not just our hearts, but also our minds and bodies with the challenges, problems, dilemmas and situations faced by the 1 billion slum dwellers in our world. It’s about raising awareness of the lives of millions and learning how about we can make a difference ourselves.

The idea is that schools can use the specially crafted guides below to slot Slum Survivor into their curriculum, offering the chance to learn more about our 1 billion neighbours across the world that live in poverty.

Have a look and see what you reckon...

Check out what's on the Soul Action TV...

got questions...

Need help making this happen in your school? Several schools we know of have run Slum Survivor workshops. Get in touch to see what we can do to make it happen for you!
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have you run this in your school?

If so then we'd love to hear from you. Did it go well, were the resources helpful, can they be improved? Drop us an email to let us know!
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the downloads...

Download the following guides to help you get started in thinking through how Slum Survivor, issues of poverty, justice and response can fit into the UK curriculum...

All the guides and downloads are still largely in trial stages so please do suggest ways in which they can be developed and adapted for the future.

citizenship or Geography KS3 lesson plans...

3 (running up to 4) lesson outlines looking at poverty, life in slums and political and personal responses to the issues.
DOWNLOAD NOW...

a ks3 day event/conference...

Spend 6 hours learning about the way one billion people spend a lifetime! A Slum Survivor day conference plan specifically for KS3 students.
DOWNLOAD NOW...

post 16 day event/conference...

A day based conference/event that give students the chance to face challenges and reflect on what life living in slums is like.
DOWNLOAD NOW...

Extra's

Check out some of this material that is referenced in the Slum Survivor Schools resources...

the boardgame...

'Moving On' is a board-game which teaches and informs the players about the millions of people living in slums and extreme poverty around the world.
DOWNLOAD NOW...

a day in the life film...

a short film that highlights the differences between the life of a you person in the UK and that of 1 billion slum dwellers world wide.
DOWNLOAD HERE (RIGHT CLICK ME AND 'SAVE TARGET AS')...

endorsements for slum survivor in schools...

“A sixth of the world's population currently live in slum conditions- a sobering and challenging fact. I commend those taking part in Slum Survivor events, not only for their willingness to get closer to understanding the stark and desperate conditions that so many face, but in raising much needed funds and public awareness for those for whom this life is a daily reality.”
Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams

"I & my committee have visited many slums and have just the slightest concept of what living on a dollar a day must be like. This experience gives participants and idea of just how basic it is for real people"
Malcolm Bruce, Chair of the ID Select Committee

“Slum Survivor will help educate a new generation of young campaigners to raise awareness of the issues the poor around the world face. By having just a glimpse of what slum dwellers have to live with, we hope it will empower young people to understand how they can be part of making a difference to the lives of so many.”
David Westlake, Integral Mission Director at Tearfund

get the pack...

We've created a CD ROM DVD pack geared at churches and youth groups but you may find the resource (especially the videos) helpful in running a Slum, Survivor event in a school. Get your free copy here!
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MP's slum it...

Back in July, three MP's from each of the different major political parties, undertook a 24 hour Slum Survivor challenge to help launch the plan to produce Slum Survivor material for UK schools. This is what they have said of their experiences...

“Living life in a slum is reality for 1 billion people, and by going through the Slum Survivor challenge I’m hoping that the issue of poverty and those communities who have to live without proper shelter, sanitation or clean water is highlighted,”
David Burrowes MP

“Being part of the Slum Survivor challenge has been about experiencing just a tiny part of what life is like for these communities. It’s important that we keep up pressure on governments and make sure that they progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, one of which focuses on improving the lives of slum dwellers around the world,”
Andy Reed MP

“Being part of this initiative is an act of solidarity. The Slum Survivor initiative is about reminding governments that this kind of life is a reality for so many people and we need to take action.”
Tim Farron MP

need photo's of slums to use in lessons?

Try flickr! Although we have a few photo's of what life is like in some of the poorest South African communities, it's great to have a balanced view of what slums around the world are actually like.
Visit this page at Flickr to get some images to use (bearing in mind the rights and permissions of use on each photo).
CHECK OUT FLICKR...