#otforchange

In Kenville, a community with its fair share of challenges, the first five Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are undeniably the most pressing. No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health and Well-being, Quality Education, and Gender Equality, these are the priorities, and rightfully so. My supervisor, Chantal, always emphasizes giving more time to what's most important, especially in a community like this. And its true action is being taken on these goals, whether by us or by others. Although the efforts are not enough yet, they’re getting the attention they deserve, and I’m not downplaying their importance. But that doesn’t mean we should completely ignore the other goals. After all, if given the chance, the so-called “lesser” goals could have just as much impact. Even if it’s just getting people to think about them, or teaching them that these goals exist, it's a start.

Take electricity, for example. Some people in Kenville have hooked themselves up to the electricity illegally. You see the wires hanging around when you walk through the community. So, while I’m not going to preach about solar power or anything fancy, I can at least raise some awareness about safety. It’s funny, in a sad way, because this wouldn’t even be necessary if the government provided safe electricity. But oh well, we make do with what we have. Preventing electrocution, especially among kids, is a top priority. I plan to raise awareness on simple, practical steps, like hiding electrical cords, placing them out of reach, and securing exposed wires. It’s about taking what we have and making it safer, even if the government seems to have forgotten that we exist.

Economic growth in Kenville starts with women. We already have a job skills training program, but the turnout is not what we hoped it would be. Women, who are the backbone of this community, just aren’t showing up. My mission? Get them motivated. We need to remind them of their power and potential. Maybe it’s about showing them success stories from within their community or simply making the sessions more engaging and relevant. If we can get the women of Kenville involved, we’ll start to see real change.

In a community like Kenville, it’s not realistic to jump straight into talking about big ideas like infrastructure and industrialization when the basics aren’t even in place. It’s all well and good to dream big, but how can we discuss massive infrastructure changes when kids can’t even walk safely through their own streets? Infrastructure isn’t just about grand projects like highways or skyscrapers; it’s also about making sure that the everyday spaces where people live, work, and play are safe and clean. Let’s start small. Take the trash problem, for example. It’s everywhere littering the streets, pilling up in playgrounds, and in between their houses. When it’s not sitting there, it’s being burned, releasing who knows what into the air. Children play among broken bottles, dirty diapers, and other horrors that should be properly disposed of. This is where we begin, not with grand plans for industrialization, but with simple actions to clean up the spaces people use every day.

My first step is practical: I’ll be sending an email to the eThekwini municipality to find out why waste isn’t being collected in Kenville. If their response isn’t not up to par, I’ll take it further, all the way to the Minister of Water and Sanitation if I have to. Because while it’s important to think big, we can’t forget about the small, everyday issues that have a huge impact on people’s lives. Infrastructure is about making sure everyone in the community can live in a safe, clean environment, and that’s where the real work starts.

When it comes to reducing inequality, it’s about more than just making sure people with disabilities have equal access, tackling issues like gender inequality, racial discrimination, and economic disparities, though that’s important too. It’s also about creating a more inclusive environment for everyone, including the LGBTQI+ community. Recently, I wrote an essay about being inclusive in my practice, and I’ve started making some changes, even if they seem small. One simple yet powerful step I’ve taken is to ask my clients how they’d like to be referred to, rather than making assumptions based on appearance or gender norms. It’s about recognizing that not everyone fits into the traditional boxes society tends to use. For example, I don’t assume that a male client’s partner is female just because that’s the norm. By doing this, I’m not only respecting their identity but also creating a space where they feel seen and understood. These might seem like small gestures, but they make a big difference in fostering inclusivity and reducing inequality. It’s about laying the groundwork for bigger changes by starting with the way we interact with individuals on a day-to-day basis

So yeah, I’m just one OT student, working in a community with problems that seem way too big to handle. But don’t think a small spark can’t do much, because that’s how the biggest wildfires start. That’s what I’m aiming to be: a spark that sets off something huge. In Kenville, while the first five sustainable goals are definitely important, that doesn’t mean the others don’t matter too. Even if I’m just raising awareness about safe electricity use or motivating women to join job skills programs, it’s a start. Whether it’s emailing the municipality about waste collection or making sure everyone feels included, these small steps can lead to something much bigger. The changes I’m making, the awareness I’m bringing, these are just the start. The difference I hope to make is so big, there isn’t even a word for it yet. I’m not here just to tick off boxes; I’m here to shake things up, to push for something better, and to start something that will keep going even after I’m gone. The challenges may be big, but the potential for change is bigger, and it all starts with a single spark.

Links to Further Reading

Illegal Electricity Connections and Safety:

Understanding the Risks of Illegal Electricity Connections

Safety Measures for Informal Settlements

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Community Settings:

Implementing SDGs in Disadvantaged Communities

Case Studies on SDG Impact in Informal Settlements

Inclusivity in Occupational Therapy Practice:

Inclusivity in Community-Based Occupational Therapy

Gender and Sexual Identity in Healthcare Settings

https://www.statssa.gov.za/MDG/SDG_Country_report.pdf

References

eThekwini Municipality. (2022). Waste management services in informal settlements: Challenges and strategies. eThekwini Municipality Waste Management Department Report.

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). (2021). Guidelines for inclusive practices in community-based occupational therapy. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75(3), 123-130.

Jones, S. R., & Abes, E. S. (2019). Negotiating gender and sexual identity in healthcare settings. Journal of LGBTQ Issues in Counseling, 13(2), 97-112.

Campbell, C., & Jovchelovitch, S. (2000). Health, community, and development: Towards a social psychology of participation. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, 10(4), 255-270.

Bartlett, S. (1999). Children's experience of the physical environment in poor urban settlements and the implications for policy, planning and practice. Environment and Urbanization, 11(2), 63-73.

World Health Organization (WHO). (2020). Health as the pulse of the new urban agenda: United Nations conference on housing and sustainable urban development.

Townsend, E. A., & Wilcock, A. A. (2004). Occupational justice and client-centred practice: A dialogue in progress. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 71(2), 75-87.