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H. George, W. Hoogbergen, S. Huybregts, D. Kruijt, W. de Luca & R. Wijngaarde Atakando Pobresa Combating poverty through integrated neighbourhood development |
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The Fund for Social Development and Economic Activities (Reda Sosial) was founded on May 31, 1996. According to its charter, the Funds objectives are to finance and encourage the establishment of projects that are deemed of importance for the social and economic development of the Netherlands Antilles and/or its island territories. For several years Reda Sosial has been funding small-scale anti-poverty programmes in six deprived neighbourhoods on Curaçao: Soto, Kanga-Dein, Seru Grandi, Berg Altena, Rooi Santu and Otrobanda. These programmes were developed in response to the Pobresa, ban ataké research project (1999). The programmes have focussed upon improvement to the infrastructure and investment in human capital (courses, psychological support, after-school care etc. for local residents). An important component is the involvement of local people in efforts to loosen the stranglehold of poverty on their own neighbourhoods (increasing self-reliance). In Atakando Pobresa, the second of Reda Sosials publications on the theme of poverty, the problems facing Curaçaos poorest neighbourhoods are looked at again. The researchers have made use of new publications and the most recent figures from the Central Bureau of Statistics for the Netherlands Antilles. Where possible, the data are compared with the results of the 1999 Pobresa research project. They offer a good insight into the current state of poverty on Curaçao. The picture that emerges is not a cheerful one. Atakando Pobresa also contains recommendations for pressing ahead with measures to combat poverty. The researchers argue that the socio-economic problems in deprived areas can only be solved through integrated neighbourhood development. This book is the English translation of Atakando Pobresa: Armoedebestrijding door integrale wijkaanpak (Rozenberg Publishers, 2003). Translated by Rob Bland. Bestel/Order |
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