T he socio-environmental Risk Mapping is a UNICEF initiative developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in partnership with the Public Laboratory for Open Technology and Science (PLOTS). The initiative contributes to

the development of critical thinking in adolescent residents of favelas in Rio de Janeiro about the environmental, mobility, housing, and structural problems in the communities where they live. The project strengthens participatory governance by increasing public representatives awareness of problems identified by residents, from the perspective of adolescents and youth. Through the use of digital technologies, it establishes more precise local knowledge connecting community actors and public policies.

“Reducing Inequalities and Promoting Equity is fundamental to guarantee the rights of children and adolescents that reside in urban centers”(UNICEF, 2012)

The action began to be developed in August 2011 with the realization of a “Training of Trainers” workshop hosted by teams from UNICEF and PLOTS. This capacitation was accompanied by representatives of government and public organs that oversee emergency response and environmental disaster prevention, including Defesa Civil, GeoRio, Rio Águas, Instituto Municipal de Urbanismo Pereira Passos, in addition to community leaders and adolescent community residents. The first stage was implemented by the Center for Health Promotion (CEDAPS) and government representatives who accompanied the project. A team of the Innovative Support to Emergencies, Diseases, and Disasters (InSTEDD) is providing technical support to refine the cell phone application.

Adolescents and youth

The starting point

Shared Construction

Five communities were strategically chosen to do the M a p p i n g . B e y o n d participating in the Platform for Urban Centers (PCU), these locations were greatly impacted by the rains of April 2010 that left hundreds dead and destroyed houses. They

are vulnerable communities in relation to the themes addressed in this initiative. They are: Morro dos Prazeres, Morro dos Macacos, Morro do Borel, Morro do Urubu, and Rocinha. The youth workshops aim to join theory and practice through four principal phases:

1 -Adolescents and youth of vulnerability, susceptibility, environment, disasters, health

discuss and learn the concepts

3 - Breaking into groups, they tour the community corresponding to the

previously debated risks and produce guides with the mapped images. This is a moment of active learning, in which knowledge is created through the hands and critical perspectives of the youth participants.4 - Next, the group is presented with the possibility of using a common toy They learn to create a protective cover for the camera for the aerial mapping using a plastic bottle, string, tape, rubber bands, and metal hooks. This stage prioritizes teamwork, as the flying of the kite requires at least three people.

to mark points with their cell phones

– a kite – as a mapping instrument.

Youth-Led Socio-Environmental Risk Mapping:

improvement of quality of life for children and adolescentsA strategy for enviromental education and risk reduction for

leading the mapping:

foster debate about the city, the community where they live, and living conditions.2 - They that integrate different perspectives about the themes and knowledge acquired during the first phase of the workshop. The participants then begin to debate about the socio-environmental problems affecting their communities and resulting consequences for residents. The adolescent and youth vision becomes incorporated in the construction of local knowledge.

elaborate thematic mapping guides

The constructed maps will become public domain and the involved communities will be able to conduct advocacy targeted at the competent government organs. The availability of this material will permit anyone to accompany the processes of community change and improvement. Periodic seminars and thematic meetings will be organized with public authorities to foster dialogue. Through the transfer of technology and education process, this initiative integrates itself directly into existing government programs in the communities, programs that include: the Programa das Unidades de Polícia Pacificadora (UPP Social), Instituto Pereira Passos, and the Núcleos de Defesa Civil (NUCEC) of the Municipal Secretary of Health and Civil Defense. Other intersectoral initiatives, such as the Núcleos de Saúde Escola – Comunidade (NSEC), have expressed interest in using this tool as a strategic resource for their work. Adolescent participants of the Platform of Urban Centers and the Network of Adolescent Health Promoters (RAP da Saúde), of the Municipal Secretary of Health and Civil Defense, are directly involved in leading the digital mapping in their communities.

The points are uploaded to the relevant thematic guide in the online map,complete with

associated images, interviews, and descriptions..

From mapping to actionThe elaboration of an Action Plan for the reduction and/or solution of identified problems is composed of two complementary axes: community mobilization and government action.

The mapping is realized in two stages with two complementary technologies.

The kite is used to conduct an aerial mapping to identify more expansive risks, such as landslides and disaster prone areas. A camera in continual-shot mode is attached to the kite and activated. While the kite climbs, the camera takes pictures – the higher it goes, the wider an area it covers. After bringing the kite back down, the images are downloaded directly to a p u b l i c s i t e , “ M a p M i l l ' ( ).One of the advantages of this tool is to show updated images of the area, produced by involved youth and more current than available satellite

photos. The program allows for the arrangement of the produced images, similar to the building of a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle.

www.mapmil.org/sites

The information generated by the digital mapping is available for everyone involved, in particular the community and government actors. The mapping should be continuous and thus generate information for the development of public prevention policies built around the reduction of socio-environmental risks and protection in the case of disasters. Since the beginning, the initiative has included the participation of government representatives in the areas of civil defense, health, and community development.

The cell phone mapping is used to identify specific problems, such as garbage accumulation, loose wiring, holes in the road, dangerous pedestrian crossings, and inaccessibility for disabled persons, among others.The mapping is conducted through an installed application, the UNICEF GIS, that localizes the point using GPS, takes pictures, and i n c l u d e s u s e r commentary. The process is conducted entirely by youth residents of the community, who already know the area. The maps can temporarily be found at the web address: www.unicef-gis.org/rio

The Cell Phone

Perspectives

The Kite

in urban centers

T n f acted b

he commu ity o Prazeres was heavily imp y heavy

s n A r 2 l n e. T

rain i p il 010 that resu ted i the death of 34 peopl he

o p e b t

p ints ma p d y the youth demonstrate tha socio-

en o i s p i t d h t eed r

vir nmental r sk still ers s an s ow the urgen n fo

r o tho i esp evention acti ns by public au r ti .

o l the i

During the Acti n P an stage of train ng, the youth

o the es o i e comrec gnized r p ns bility of th munity to not throw

n ,i ti i or s

trash on the grou d to take care of ex s ng publ c w k , and

to e t r s n p s

tell r levan autho ities about exi ti g roblem .

o hir s ted

The y uth ghlighted that the wo k hop presen them

ve e a

with a new perspecti on wher they live. “Now I will p ss on

s ea l n h o tras n

thi id that peop e should 't t r w h on the grou d or

n ad ' have that mm

leave it o the ro . I didn t an idea the co unity

mu a I he r th

had so much accu lated tr sh. will lp to educe is

ob i C s i e a 6 .

pr lem,” aff rmed á s o Soar s d Silva, 1 years old

ru u map to k pla n b ua 2 n 0 2 n 0 0 e

The U b ping o ce o Fe r ry , 3, a d 4, 2 1 . I 2 1 , th

c mmr d a nd de t yi g o 5 h u e N e a

o unity suffe e la slide s ro n ver 2 0 o s s. o on w s

u t r ille b c s w e d s ho s b fo e th ide

h r o k d e au e the area as mptie ju t ur e r e inc nt.

i s pla e as b ilt plaza wi h spo ts fie s r me ting

In t c w u a t a r ld that e ves as a e

p e fo th. The w rk hop p tic pa i u h s e d

lac r youo s ar ipants, in rt c lar t o e that h lpe

t e c i n and w s e ata tr phe e d h ir e r e

in h eva uat o itne sed th c s o , r late t e xpe ienc

and di te de te ar u is er e tio

me a d ba o nd r k p c p n.e g o p ig h e ne ss f nc e ng a ar ne s o e

Th r u h hlig ted th ce ity o i r asi w e s f the xtant

lands is s o the impo tanc f ade ate t ash dis o al r m h

lide r k and f r e o qu r p s . F o t e

o th p r p t ve n r u and al ays e s t e

y u e s ec i , trash o the g o nd in leyw pr vent h

o unity fr m h w o itive c A c ane c mm ls

c mm o s o ing its p s aspe ts. le r o unity a o

w u h lp y u f e p id b ut e e th y

o ld e o th to e l r e a o wh r e live.c gr p e p ess d r the c a n f c o erat ve

The lo al ou x r e the desire fo re tio o a o p i

p mole to is . I w le to w lac s i the

ro ting sustainab ur m “ as ab see ne p e n

o nity and lt lo e to it a r e We h b aut fu vi w

c mmu I fe c s r fte I saw th m. ave a e i l e

of st t e ntir ty o io Ja o I w u e e le o o e to

almo h e e f R de neir . o ld lik p op fr m utsid

vis and e it h h ld c e inc e o the c mm ” u g ste

it se , w ic wou r ate om f r o unity, s g e d

r Go o B rb sa, 1 e s o

Jo rana d y a o 5 y ar ld.

In h M r s a s g n n be w n

t e o ro do Mac co , 24 youn me a d women t ee

t g f 1 n a i i e n e O r

he a es o 3 a d 22 p rt c pat d in a traini g h ld on ctobe

20,a d 22, 1. n o h st d y erv d p o ms

18, n 201 O e f t e mo wi el obs e r ble

w th t f ra h ra n d t e bs r g th l

as e amoun o t s in the d i i ch s, o t uctin e f ow

f ra n e in e s g t i o a r a t

o i wat r and cr a in he r sk f dis sters. Pa ticip n s also

o er d a g r us ho n n itio s a d i ie c es

bs ve d n e o usi g co d n n def c n i in

o n a in , a i a n a d o in e vi e

g vernme t cle n g s n t tio , n h us g s r c s.

t A t o l n t yo h i h ig e e mp a e

In he c i n P a , he ut h g l ht d th i ort nc of

j i a i s be w n c mmun a o ( s c a n d

o nt ct on t ee o ity ct rs as o i tio s an

s d a ve m . S e t s i cl

re i ents) nd go rn ent ugg s ed action n uded

i s bi i a d w r n s c n o g

nten ive mo lizat on n a a e es ampaig s to enc ura e

e p i t s o o n t t o d n n t ld

th po ulat on o t p thr wi g rash on he gr un a d o bui

ho s n a s d e n e o Civi De n .

use i rea e med da g r us by the l fe se

The Borel mapping took place on December 14 and 16, 2011 and identified inadequate housing and the lack of planned housing

development as additional causes of health and nvironmental

serisks beyond inadequate trash disposal.

The B rel Action Plan contemplated propositions such as the

ocreation of credit programs facilitating the acquisitio of more nsecure real estate, especially among populations in high-ris areas. kIt also included roposed environmental education programs

pemphasizing socio-environ ental risks and targeting the youth

mpopulation. “Children learn easily and influence their parents. A c ild is hcapable of changing the behavior of his pare ts. And, most

n important, he will grow knowing what he should or should not do to maintain his secure su roundings,” evaluat d Iu i Pereira 14 years

re r ,

old.

Morro do Borel

o nR ci ha

o UMorr do rubu

The appin in ocinha as held on February 27, 28, a d arch 1, 2012 and inclu edm g R w n M d

partici ants rom the e work of do scent ea h Pro oters (RA da aúde . Thp f N t A le H lt m P S ) e

w rks p in th commun y foc se on the th f ur an mob y. Rocinha s o ho is it u d eme o b ilit '

co plic te geogr phy cou le with car and motorc cle taxi traffic provided the y u h m a d a p d y o t

wit a perce ion o insec rity.h pt f u

The youth hi hlighted pro l m re ting to a cessib lity a d mobility, su h s the la k f g b e s la c i n c a c o

si ewalks, ram , a d traff sign ling n the s reets.d ps n ic a o t

e Ac ion lan s ill in he cess of fina a io , w dis us t challeng for he Th t P , t t pro liz t n ill c s he e t

commun ty in inte i g a oun mob y an a cess iss es Neverth s, t ese i rven n r d ilit d c u . eles h

ha le ges are seen by the yo th as an oppor u y t di tly dialog e with public officials c l n u t nit o rec u

nd th pop lation Th actions o be sug e ed includ proposals or bett r a e u . e t g st e f e

infr st c u e and traf ic ucation pro rams.a ru t r f ed g

Morro os Macac sd o

Morro dos Prazeres

The results of this strategy will impact the life of adolescents who reside in favelas and outskirts of urban centers, increase the acting capacity of community actors, and draw visibility to existing challenges. In addition, it will influence the management of public policies and create more inclusive, secure, and participatory actions aimed at reducing risks

and disparities in the city. 111 youth participated in the pilot initiative in their communities.

The hill full of trash

Comlurb, UPP and residents cleaning the hill

The hill after cleaning

The Uga-Uga,offering risks for pedestrians and cyclists

The bridge after refurbished

The whole new pathway and brige

The work has generated positive results that demonstrate the direct impact of the mapping.

Some of the youth that participated in the mapping joined the “Acredite & Faça Acontecer” group in the Morro dos Prazeres. The residents partnered with Comlurb, UPP, UPP Social, and the Secretary of Conservation to begin a series of community improvements. The first initiative was to clean the Campinho and remove a landfill located in the community. The city also remodeled the Uga-Uga bridge, which offered a large risk for pedestrians and cyclists. The wooden structure was rebuilt in concrete.

Results

One resulting intervention impacting adolescents