Roger Sapsford

LIVING ON THE MARGINS

This article argues that in both policy and economic debates the specifically local experiences of older people living in deprived neighbourhoods have been ignored. It describes research undertaken in an area of material deprivation and low access to ‘social capital’, on the margins of Middlesbrough both geographically and socially. A health and lifestyle survey of older people in the area was supplemented by Community Futures Workshops at which residents discussed problems and solutions. Main concerns raised were a fear of crime and the need for better maintenance of the area, better transport and locally provided health services. Beyond this, residents spoke of a need for older people to be valued rather than relegated to the margins. Their experiences are contrasted with those of older people living in a materially advantaged neighbourhood to highlight the specific problems experienced as a product of social and geographical place.

Concepts of citizenship, social and system integration among young people in post-Soviet Moldova

The paper looks at changing concepts of citizenship among young people in Moldova in a context of social and system disintegration. Due to the protracted economic and political crisis there, young people were disengaged from political, economic and social citizenship but are socially integrated at the level of family and friendship networks, which gives them a sense of belonging in Moldovan society. This led to a particular view of citizenship in the sense of loyalty to the nation but alienation from the formal system and the state more generally. The result was that only a small number saw a future for themselves in Moldova, another group were prepared to try to find ways to survive there and a third, large group preferred to seek their fortunes abroad by migrating either to Russia or to the European Union. Both of these latter two options entailed serious risks and resulted in their further legal and economic marginalisation. The reconstruction of the life course into a fragmented, individualised, risky and highly uncertain trajectory was characterised, like that of the country in general, as an unending transition.

Overcoming poverty and inequality: Rwanda\'s progress towards the MDGs

Despite the 1994 genocide there has been annual growth in Rwanda every year since 2000. Poverty has decreased; while the MDG target of 23.8% is unlikely to be met by 2015, the future looks hopeful. The goal of reducing hunger is measured by underweight children – already down to target – and extreme poverty – likely to hit the target. Key to success is reducing dependency on the land, but a majority of the population still depend on their farm or plot. However, hitting targets for reducing poverty is not the same thing as abolishing it, and achieving targets does not necessarily solve problems.

A feasible Open Learning framework: The case of the National University of Rwanda

Open Learning (OL) comes as a promising strategy for Higher Education in developing countries, especially Africa and particularly in Rwanda. The resources needed for conventional lecture driven presentation like buildings, libraries, learning platform, Software, Internet Connectivity are scarce given at the rate of expansion that Rwanda needs. However, web-based systems are also not practical as yet, because connectivity is unreliable and limited in geographical coverage (though networks are being improved at a fast pace), so a ‘low-tech’ but electronic solution has been adopted by the National University of Rwanda (NUR) which we think will be viable even in remote areas. A strong blended learning system is being put in place to deliver multi-disciplinary degrees in the first instance, but with the intention of expanding into continuing professional development at all levels and to open routes to higher education for those who missed out or dropped out at the appropriate time. The system is in its infancy, but it looks promising as a solution to some of Rwandas educational problems.