2013/02/19-22 East Asian Inclusive City Network

A Workshop for Building an 

Hosted by

Urban Research Plaza, Osaka City University

in collaboration with the Japanese Academy for Housing Well-being, Inclusive City Network Japan (general incorporated association), Korean Community Research Institute

sponsored by Urban Research Plaza

on Feb. 19 (Wed.) - Feb. 22 (Fri.), 2013

at Nishinari Plaza & other areas in Osaka

In recent years the concentration of poverty in cities has reached a new degree. This phenomenon of 'urbanization of poverty' is receiving great attention from policy makers as well as academic researchers. The focus of this workshop is on how to address the demands of socially disadvantaged groups in vulnerable urban areas, and how to regenerate neighbourhoods which are facing social exclusion through urban (re)development. In the fight against exclusion, the voices of disadvantaged groups and residents of disadvantaged neighbourhoods cannot be overlooked. 

As the forces of globalization are pushing for economic and industrial restructuring new problems emerge. In East Asian countries like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and China (including Hong Kong SAR). vulnerable people face more and more difficulties in obtaining stable employment, entitlements including health care, education, housing, and more broadly citizenship. To address these issues, we have formed the East Asian Inclusive City Network. This workshop is expected to be the start point for building up this network. 

Nishinari Plaza & other areas in Osaka, Japan

Each Sub-center (HK SAR, Taiwan, Shanghai, S. Korea) is expected to bring 3 to 6 people to join this workshop (for the host city Osaka, the number of participants is flexible).

This workshop will be conducted in the local language, Japanese, Korean, Chinese via one-by-one interpretation (not simultaneous).

Program: <Chinese> <Japanese> <Korean>

Workshop 1: Understanding and Sharing Experiences of Practices for the Vulnerable (Feb 20)

This session consists of field trips and a free discussion for understanding each country's context regarding government & city policy implementation and practices by NGOs, which can be included in the following sub-themes: (1) homeless people, (2) young working poor, (3) unemployed people, (4) ethnic residents, (5) other vulnerable person;

Workshop 2: Understanding and Sharing Experiences of Practices for the Housing

Each country will present two related topics, one on the policy system from the government side (public housing system & related services, etc.), and the other on practices from NGOs for the housing-poor using the private rental sector (resources, support organization & related services). For each topic 5 minutes for presentation will be available. 

Workshop 3: Understanding and Sharing Experiences of Practices for the Community

(1) Alternative Urban Regeneration for Socially Disadvantaged Areas, (2) Training Programs for Community Workers & Organization Operations for Vulnerable People in Disadvantaged Areas.

Proceedings: <Chinese> <Japanese> <Korean>

Output: <Japanese> (with power point materials for each presentation)