Title of Event:

Name of Organisation:

Date and time of the session:

Positive Beats from City Streets

Music Mayday, Baobabconnections, Dutch National Youth Council

20 June 2006, 16.30-18.30

Key Highlights

1. Estimated no of participants: about 450
2. Stakeholder group representation at the event: a mixture of young people from all around the world, mayors, ministers, UN-delegates and ngo's were participating in the networking event.
3. What were the expected objectives: to show examples of successful youth programs around the world. Young people are not necessarily victims of decisions taken by faceless authorities, but young people can be part of the solution to problems all inhabitants of cities face. This starts by giving young people a space, literally and figuratively speaking, where they can share an express their opinions and where they can learn from each other.
4. What did the networking event achieve:
• The participants gained more knowledge, voiced by youth from all around the world, about youth expressing themselves on different levels, whether it is through music on a local level, by cooperating with government on an (inter) national level or on a global digital level.
• The participants exchanged ideas in the discussion after the presentations
• Many participants, in particular the mayors and ministers, learned that youth are serious and capable stakeholders, when it comes to sustainable urban development.

2. What were the core issues identified in your event as they relate to the theme and sub-themes of WUFIII? The core issues identified were safer cities, social inclusiveness, and self employment. Positive Beats from City Streets shows how ideas are actually already turned into actions. We wanted to show positivity and that it's possible to use a powerful tool like music and film for change. At the same time we would like to address that, even though young people can achieve much positive change by themselves, they need more support by governments and companies. Not only in a financial way, but also by recognising the 2.8 billion young people in this world as a serious stakeholder in urban sustainable development and safety.

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? Many people were enthousiastic about the youth initiatives that we showed, we really got thumbs up for our projects! After the presentations many questions were asked, for instance about how to start a youth council, about youth organisations cooperating with the national or local governments and whether this is possible or impossible for young people from different backgrounds and/or countries. There was also a lot of interest in Nirit Peled's film 'Say my Name', that is on young female artists in the male-dominated hiphopscene.

4. What process steps have been identified in your event that could help turn ideas into operational reality? (Local) Governments should see more clearly that it's very much worth investing in places and spaces for youth (cultural youth centers), because it's so important for them to have a place where they can develop their creative talents and where the can share and express their opinions. It leads to happier people that feel like they are part of their community and able to make a real contribution to their societies. Creating a safe and inspiring place for young people contributes to safer cities, and finally to a better economy.

So, we need:

- more involvement of youth in decision making processes;

- more resources directed to youth initiatives;

- more visibility and a formal voice in the official programme at the World Urban Forum, and in similar events..