IN-PERSON Lisbon Livable Cities. Section A

Abstract

Taking a critical point of departure, this research explored the potential of Community-Based Research (CBR) to mobilise youth not in education, employment or training (NEETs) to act as active agents in spatial transformation through transformative place-making in Khuma, a South African township. In response to South Africa’s persistently fragmented post-Apartheid urban landscapes and an increasing youth unemployment rate (nearing 60%) the study investigates how CBR can empower marginalised youth to co-create inclusive, meaningful green places in their communities. The research is grounded in a qualitative, participatory action research (PAR) design, underpinned by Communicative Planning Theory and concepts of the Just City, transformative placemaking and sustainability. A scoping review was used to frame the conceptual boundaries of transformative placemaking, while empirical data was generated through participatory methods that stretched over a period of six months. Methods that were used included photo-voice, transect walks, community mapping and a world café to conclude. Focus group discussions were employed throughout the process to reflect on the experiences and changes that resulted from the research. The CBR approach aimed to include youth experiences, spatial narratives, and co-produced strategies for spatial change. The outcomes are expected to inform both theory and praxis, offering a framework for leveraging local knowledge and social capital in achieving spatial justice and sustainable urban futures.