ENGAGING YOUNG PEOPLE IN TRANSFORMING OUR CITIES
Citizen engagement is vital to the successful urban transformations of Nordic and Baltic cities. However, it can remain a challenge to hear and bring forward the perspectives of young people, who can be a major source of inspiration and ideas for how we can reimagine mobility patterns, public space and even entire cities. Their involvement is critical for bringing about long-term behavioural change, for creating inclusive urban spaces that also benefit climate adaptation and, ultimately, for shaping a sustainable and liveable future for all.
Moreover, the multiple crises facing the world can make it challenging for young people to view their future with optimism. Climate anxiety and dissatisfaction with governments’ response to the climate crisis are widespread in children and young people, according to a 2022 study by UNICEF, so it’s important that cities engage with the youth and help bring their voices forward too.
To experiment with ways to engage young people in urban transformation, EIT Urban Mobility developed and conducted a small-scale youth engagement initiative entitled “Transform your street!” Working with educators, school students were invited to reflect upon, reimagine and create their own ideal version of a street in their neighbourhood as a physical or digital collage or drawing.
We also encouraged the educators to connect with local city hall or community engagement centres to have them inform and engage with the students about how to get involved in their own local context.
The six graphics below are a selection of the submissions, which can be viewed on Flickr.
