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Challenge:

How might we make low-income urban areas safer and more empowering for women and girls?

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770 contributions
573 ideas
573 final ideas
52 final ideas
52 final ideas
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Announced!
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Our Research phase has concluded – cheers for all of your insights, examples, stories and comments. Head over to the Ideas Phase to add your ideas and join the conversation. 

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As I started thinking of this challenge, I thought of people about me who have had first hand experience with this problem or related problems. How did they understand the challenge question? What did they learn through they work in the field who could help us? A deeper understanding of the context of young girls and women in low-income areas? Examples of programs they developed? What worked? What did not work? And why? ... I was lucky enough to have a friend who worked for more than 15 years for NGOs in various countries on issues related to child protection. I went and talked to her... and I learnt a lot.

As I started thinking of this challenge, I thought of people about me who have had first hand experience with this problem or related problems. How did they understand the challenge question? What did they learn through they work in the field who could help us? A deeper understanding of the context of young girls and women in low-income areas? Examples of programs they developed? What worked? What did not work? And why? ... I was lucky enough to have a friend who worked for more than 15 years for NGOs in various countries on issues related to child protection. I went and talked to her... and I learnt a lot.

Photo of Anne-Laure Fayard
31 30

If you've never heard of Candy Chang, prepare to leap out of your seat—inspired and motivated to change your neighborhood, your city, your world. If you have heard of her, then let's get right down it and chat about how her work can inspire research and ideas to address women's safety. What I want to share today is more inspiration than research, continuing the conversation on working with, not for, communities.

If you've never heard of Candy Chang, prepare to leap out of your seat—inspired and motivated to change your neighborhood, your city, your world. If you have heard of her, then let's get right down it and chat about how her work can inspire research and ideas to address women's safety. What I want to share today is more inspiration than research, continuing the conversation on working with, not for, communities.

Photo of Karolle Rabarison
24 25

I have really enjoyed reading the posts from other contributors. I especially enjoyed the research around getting men involved, gender stereotypes and getting people to talk so I would like to build upon these ideas.

I have really enjoyed reading the posts from other contributors. I especially enjoyed the research around getting men involved, gender stereotypes and getting people to talk so I would like to build upon these ideas.

Photo of Christine Hicklin
22 16

After observing, capturing the stories of the problems of the community living near the pipeline of Dharavi, when their recycle workshops and homes were broken down, we shared their story and raised awareness. But the community was not gaining anything directly. We shared the story with them and started to brainstorm how we can take this awareness into action. That gave genesis to Dharavi Diary - A Slum Innovation Project. We are upcycling the skills of the women and girls which will lead to strengthening the safety and economic empowerment of the community. http://www.dharavidiary.com http://www.facebook.com/dharavidiary https://twitter.com/DharaviDiary http://www.flickr.com/photos/dharavi_diary/

After observing, capturing the stories of the problems of the community living near the pipeline of Dharavi, when their recycle workshops and homes were broken down, we shared their story and raised awareness. But the community was not gaining anything directly. We shared the story with them and started to brainstorm how we can take this awareness into action. That gave genesis to Dharavi Diary - A Slum Innovation Project. We are upcycling the skills of the women and girls which will lead to strengthening the safety and economic empowerment of the community. http://www.dharavidiary.com http://www.facebook.com/dharavidiary https://twitter.com/DharaviDiary http://www.flickr.com/photos/dharavi_diary/

Photo of Nawneet Ranjan
20 7

I live in a medium-sized suburb south of San Francisco and take the train to and from work most days. During the winter when the days are shorter, this often means my ten-minute walk home from the train is done in almost total darkness.

I live in a medium-sized suburb south of San Francisco and take the train to and from work most days. During the winter when the days are shorter, this often means my ten-minute walk home from the train is done in almost total darkness.

Photo of Ashley Jablow
17 21

My mother once told me a personal story that I will never forget. She was walking back home, alone. It was dark. No one around. She heard that someone was walking behind her, not too close initially but then she realized very soon she was being followed. She felt uncomfortable and unsafe. But … She also felt that it would be silly or even “stupid" of her if she would scream, start running, or simply turned around to see who is behind. She said she was too shy and didn’t want to "insult" the person who probably was just walking behind her. She was wrong! That night she was attacked and beaten by the person who was following her. Fortunately, someone was walking by and heard her screaming and scared the attacker away. She was lucky!

My mother once told me a personal story that I will never forget. She was walking back home, alone. It was dark. No one around. She heard that someone was walking behind her, not too close initially but then she realized very soon she was being followed. She felt uncomfortable and unsafe. But … She also felt that it would be silly or even “stupid" of her if she would scream, start running, or simply turned around to see who is behind. She said she was too shy and didn’t want to "insult" the person who probably was just walking behind her. She was wrong! That night she was attacked and beaten by the person who was following her. Fortunately, someone was walking by and heard her screaming and scared the attacker away. She was lucky!

Photo of Elena Kochanoff
17 11

Cities can be dangerous, but they can also be full of opportunities. The success of micro-finance in improving access to funding and helping people realize their entrepreneurial potential is well documented. Women's Initiative is an organization doing incredible work with "high-potential, low-income" women in Oakland, San Francisco and New York. Over 70% of their graduates remain in their business ventures 5 years after their training. Women's Initiative graduates have created over 5,000 jobs.

Cities can be dangerous, but they can also be full of opportunities. The success of micro-finance in improving access to funding and helping people realize their entrepreneurial potential is well documented. Women's Initiative is an organization doing incredible work with "high-potential, low-income" women in Oakland, San Francisco and New York. Over 70% of their graduates remain in their business ventures 5 years after their training. Women's Initiative graduates have created over 5,000 jobs.

Photo of Jason Rissman
17 11

This was a really interesting initiative by design students in Bangalore in partnership with the Blank Noise Project, an organisation that aims to raise awareness of violence against women in India. What they did was get strangers to talk to volunteers across tables, face-to-face, in a street which was notorious for being unsafe for women. It bridged divides of class, race, gender and brought the focus to the issue at hand. There are different motivations for men attacking women and this sought to eliminate those misunderstandings.

This was a really interesting initiative by design students in Bangalore in partnership with the Blank Noise Project, an organisation that aims to raise awareness of violence against women in India. What they did was get strangers to talk to volunteers across tables, face-to-face, in a street which was notorious for being unsafe for women. It bridged divides of class, race, gender and brought the focus to the issue at hand. There are different motivations for men attacking women and this sought to eliminate those misunderstandings.

Photo of Anjali Ramachandran
16 44

After a fun evening, how many of you have been asked by friends or parents to text them when you arrive home? What do you think are the reasons behind this habit and how might we learn from people's existing behaviors?

After a fun evening, how many of you have been asked by friends or parents to text them when you arrive home? What do you think are the reasons behind this habit and how might we learn from people's existing behaviors?

Photo of Cansu Akarsu
15 14

Creating physical location Hubs for individuals to meet others traveling along the same route or possibly to the same destination. The goal is to travel with others. No scheduling required -- once two or more want to travel together they can organize and leave at any time.

Creating physical location Hubs for individuals to meet others traveling along the same route or possibly to the same destination. The goal is to travel with others. No scheduling required -- once two or more want to travel together they can organize and leave at any time.

Photo of David Price
15 19

Short films, documentaries and other means of storytelling are very powerful means of narration and inspiration. It can ignite strong emotions and if the spark gets adequate fuel we know how fast it can turn into a movement. One such attempt was made last year when Anurag Kashyap, a leading director in bollywood came up with a short film on the subject of eve teasing.

Short films, documentaries and other means of storytelling are very powerful means of narration and inspiration. It can ignite strong emotions and if the spark gets adequate fuel we know how fast it can turn into a movement. One such attempt was made last year when Anurag Kashyap, a leading director in bollywood came up with a short film on the subject of eve teasing.

Photo of Ankit Chhabra
15 6

India is a diverse country in many terms. The different communities, their rituals, behavioural conducts etc. offer many insights into the problems which exist elsewhere. Looking at them through a particular lense and trying to go deeper can help us build feasible solutions.

India is a diverse country in many terms. The different communities, their rituals, behavioural conducts etc. offer many insights into the problems which exist elsewhere. Looking at them through a particular lense and trying to go deeper can help us build feasible solutions.

Photo of Ankit Chhabra
15 10

This was a project done by me and Shreya Chakravarty at NID. The project examined why the relationship between citizens and the police is so grave, and maps intervention possibilities through extensive design research to create a more transparent and citizen-friendly policing system in India. Initial research showed that most people are intimidated and unhappy with the unnerving and insensitive police service. Due to the inadequacy and general lack of interest to do their jobs properly, the police have earned a bad reputation among the common masses. We had to consider the problems faced by the policemen on duty and design a system that addresses those challenges as well in order to improve services for the citizens.

This was a project done by me and Shreya Chakravarty at NID. The project examined why the relationship between citizens and the police is so grave, and maps intervention possibilities through extensive design research to create a more transparent and citizen-friendly policing system in India. Initial research showed that most people are intimidated and unhappy with the unnerving and insensitive police service. Due to the inadequacy and general lack of interest to do their jobs properly, the police have earned a bad reputation among the common masses. We had to consider the problems faced by the policemen on duty and design a system that addresses those challenges as well in order to improve services for the citizens.

Photo of Akshan Ish
14 15

My coworker recently told me about her story. We live in NYC, and she was on her way to a friend's apartment in Brooklyn one night. As she was leaving the train station, she noticed that a man was following her. Fear settled in but she continued to walk down the platform towards the exit, and luckily there was a worker in the station booth who instinctually knew that something was wrong. Understanding the look of fear on my coworker's face, she told the man that she was going to call the police, which was enough to scare him off. The point of my story is that traveling alone particularly at night, can be a scary thing. Why not have a program that partners women together, almost like a buddy system, to eliminate the chances of being alone.

My coworker recently told me about her story. We live in NYC, and she was on her way to a friend's apartment in Brooklyn one night. As she was leaving the train station, she noticed that a man was following her. Fear settled in but she continued to walk down the platform towards the exit, and luckily there was a worker in the station booth who instinctually knew that something was wrong. Understanding the look of fear on my coworker's face, she told the man that she was going to call the police, which was enough to scare him off. The point of my story is that traveling alone particularly at night, can be a scary thing. Why not have a program that partners women together, almost like a buddy system, to eliminate the chances of being alone.

Photo of Kimberley Thomas
14 12

VithU is an app that was developed by Channel V for a TV show in India, but it came at a time when the media was full of news about the increasing number of rapes in the country. It begins sending out alert messages every 2 minutes to your contacts that you feed into the app as the designated receivers or guardians when the power button is pressed twice consecutively.The receiver gets a link to your location every 2 minutes giving them an updated location.

VithU is an app that was developed by Channel V for a TV show in India, but it came at a time when the media was full of news about the increasing number of rapes in the country. It begins sending out alert messages every 2 minutes to your contacts that you feed into the app as the designated receivers or guardians when the power button is pressed twice consecutively.The receiver gets a link to your location every 2 minutes giving them an updated location.

Photo of Anjali Ramachandran
13 14

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