The youth’s transformative potential took center stage during the 12th World Urban Forum (WUF12) in Cairo, Egypt from 4-8 November 2024, where young leaders, local and international partners, and advocates from the Safe and Sound Cities (S2Cities) programme highlighted how the youth could be significant contributors to creating a more sustainable and inclusive urban future for all.
As a global implementation partner of the programme in Southeast Asia, ICLEI Southeast Asia (ICLEI SEA) joined the delegation, highlighting the crucial role local governments play in supporting youth-driven initiatives and fostering policies that promote safer, more resilient cities.
Key Moments and Highlights
S²Cities youth leaders took the spotlight in sessions like “Mechanisms for trust-building and empowering youth to participate in urban decision making for increased safety and well-being of young people”. Youth partners María Paulina, Dheamyra, Heidy, & Allysa, discussed their initiatives in bridging and reshaping societal norms to foster positive change in policies and urban safety. Their initiatives emphasize the importance of intergenerational dialogue and youth-driven advocacy to foster positive lasting change in their communities.
Maria Paulina Uribe of Hablalo Project in Colombia, delivers her speech during the Safe and Sound Cities Programme Spotlight at the 12th World Urban Forum. Photo by Kristianne Jemi Santos, ICLEI Southeast Asia.
The session titled “Making Cities Right for Young People” featured Sofia Andrea Pototan, a City Youth Councilor in Naga City, Philippines. During her presentation, she highlighted how young people in Naga are leveraging technology to enhance transparency and accountability in urban governance. By incorporating digital tools and platforms, the youth are actively participating in decision-making processes, advocating for their rights, and ensuring that local policies reflect their needs and concerns.
Sofia Andrea Pototan, a City Youth Councilor of Naga City, Philippines, speaks at the “Making Cities Right for Young People” session. Photo by Shreesha Arondekar, City Collab.
In the Children and Youth Roundtable, Sarvey Immaya Pangket and Audrey Pahayahay from Baguio City showcased the impactful projects they are leading through the S²Cities programme. Immaya is a youth innovator of a Youth Wellness Hub, while Audrey leads the Happy Paws Pet Park. Their initiatives are sparking important conversations and inspiring real change shaping an impactful and sustainable Baguio City.
Audrey Pahayahay delivers her speech during the Children and Youth Roundtable, presenting her project, Happy Paws Pet Park, as part of the S²Cities programme. Photo by Kristianne Jemi Santos, ICLEI Southeast Asia.
During the session on “Voices from Cities: Youth Voices and Innovations on Climate Resilient Urban Food and Water Systems,” Seranti Ninan from Bandung City, presented Imah Maggot Bantaran, a youth-led solution for a sustainable urban food system. The project focuses on composting to address food waste and enhance climate resilience, reimagining sustainability for the city of Bandung.
Seranti Ninan from Bandung City, presented Imah Maggot Bantaran, a youth-led solution for a sustainable urban food system. Photo by Kristianne Jemi Santos, ICLEI Southeast Asia.
Fabricio Caceres and Miguel Ocampo, the young innovators behind Arteria and Barrios Vivos in Cuenca and Envigado shared their projects in a panel discussion about tech-driven solutions for urban well-being and participatory planning. Through their projects, they address the pressing urban issues in their community and also change and elevate the voices of young people in the direction of urban development.
Throughout the week at WUF12, local and global partners, especially, youth leaders from the S²Cities programme cities passionately championed the S²Cities mission for the youth, showcased their innovative youth initiatives, and engaged in valuable networking with other young people from around the world.
As S²Cities moves into another programme phase, the insights and connections gained at WUF12 will guide its continued mission to create sustainable and inclusive urban futures for young people worldwide.
S²Cities is a global programme aiming to improve the safety and well-being of young people in urban environments. It seeks to understand urban systems better and their influence on safety and well-being, build capacity within these systems, and enable youth innovation to solve critical challenges for safer urban environments. It is proudly led by the Global Infrastructure Basel (GIB) Foundation, hosted by the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation, with the support of Fondation Botnar. Learn more via https://s2cities.org/.
Written by Kristianne Jemi Santos, Senior Project Officer, ICLEI Southeast Asia
