Title of Event:


Name of Organisation:

Date and time of the session:

"An Idea into Action: Discovering the Place of Children in Cities and Slums Around the World"

Children, Youth and Environments Center for Research and Design

19 June, 16:30-18:30

Key Highlights

1. Estimated no of participants: 50
2. Stakeholder group representation at the event: n/a
3. What were the expected objectives: To discuss the selection of cases and other methodological aspects of producing the Place of Children book, strategies for developing chapters around specific children's stories, and ideas and messages that should be included in the book.
4. What did the networking event achieve: The event generated interest in the project among WUF III attendees, resulted in answers to several key questions regarding development of the book, and highlighted two pilot case studies as precedents for further work.

2. What were the core issues identified in your event as they relate to the theme and sub-themes of WUFIII?

• Urban sustainability requires the participation of all stakeholders, including children and youth (inclusion).
• Improvement of low-income communities is happening from the inside in many places, with children and youth playing important roles (slum upgrading and affordable housing; urban planning).
• Children and youth are active agents of change and not passive victims of their environments, no matter how poor (safety and security).

3. What were the main points raised by panellists and participants in relation to these different issues? What new ideas have been generated as a result of the discussion? Worldwide urban sustainability and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals depend upon recognizing the experiences and capabilities of young people, who comprise the majority of the population in many cities of the developing world. During the event, participants identified the value of focusing on what children and youth themselves are doing to help improve their own low-income communities, and discussed the various ways in which young people are already creating positive change. Issues of affordable housing and social exclusion arose and were discussed in terms of the levels and types of poverty that young people experience in cities. Problems of inadequate urban planning and exclusion of young people from planning processes were also identified in the context of which information to include in the Place of Children book.

Presenters highlighted the experiences and actions of young people in poverty through two case studies (in Istanbul, Turkey; and Nairobi, Kenya). Group discussion then focused on how to select additional cases for the book that accurately and adequately illustrate children's agency and living conditions, while inspiring readers to see young people as vital participants in urban change.

New ideas for the approach to the book included developing child-to-child online networks to facilitate communication and knowledge sharing among subjects of the project and others around the world; being mindful of what young people are doing on their own in their communities and how those actions differ from city to city, in terms of individual and collective action; and using the book as a tool to give young participants more outlets for voicing their ideas and needs in urban processes.

4. What process steps have been identified in your event that could help turn ideas into operational reality?

Next steps in production of the book include establishing an advisory board and developing additional case studies. The Place of Children will bring to light real actions that children and youth around the world are already taking for the improvement of their homes, streets and communities.