· 27 February 2020 - Sukanya Krishnamurthy, University of Edinburgh
Accounting for caregiver experiences: Learnings from creating child-friendly environments
Given the many challenges for families in marginalised settlements, linked to urbanisation, economic opportunities, rights and participatory democracy, partnership with families and caregivers is key in creating strategies for child-friendly environment. Increased attention to the SDG’s makes this a pivotal moment to: (a) critically consider caregiver experiences in marginalised settlements, and (b) identify methods and pathways through which caregivers/ families with children can be engaged in policy development to address challenges related to growing up in cities. In this seminar, drawing on research in marginalised settlements in India, we focus on the affordances that communal spaces offer caregivers, the need to better understand contextual and diverse spatial requirements, and various forms of engagement in informing policy. The research points to the need for expanding the predominantly Global North literature on childhoods and caregivers, support different forms of knowledge and experiences, and develop an impact agenda around children in marginalised settlements.