#MyCityMyVoice

Your chance to be part of conversations to improve wellbeing at the 11th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF 11).

Share what wellbeing looks like in cities for you.

We were excited to launch the #MyCityMyVoice campaign for young people to add their voice on wellbeing in cities and mark the 11th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF 11) in June 2022. Through #MyCityMyVoice, we aim to create a global community of young people build better cities for youth. Read the ideas and questions submitted by young people below!

Choose how you want to add your voice.

Submit your idea

If you are an individual or group aged 10-30, we want you to share an idea that expresses your vision for a city where your wellbeing is met. By sharing an idea, you will be in with the chance of winning a year's subscription to Calm, an app for sleep and meditation which aims to improve health and happiness.

Submit your idea now

Ask your question

What would you like to ask a mayor or decision maker about wellbeing in cities? We invite you to ask a question about wellbeing in cities, with the most popular answered across the week by guests –– including experts from around the world –– visiting in the booth.

Submit your question now

Why

By 2050, more than two thirds of the world’s population will live in urban areas – but these cities are not currently equipped for wellbeing. From education, to healthcare, to employment, our city systems are currently failing young people, damaging their health and wellbeing, and leaving them at risk of being left behind.

What

Young people are critical to building healthier, prosperous and more sustainable cities. At Fondation Botnar, we believe that when given the tools, young people will play a crucial role in shaping our collective future, tackling new challenges, and harnessing opportunities. During WUF11, we are inviting young people – both in person at the conference, as well as those joining or following the event virtually, to have the opportunity to have their voices heard and dialogue with global experts and political leaders in urbanisation and city planning.

When

The #MyCityMyVoice campaign will launch on 23rd June and is open for submissions until the 30th June.

#MyCityMyVoice Ideas Wall

Due to digitization and urbanization, most interactions young people have with each other are online. Most cities around the world are now devoid of young people's close-knit (in person) social groupings that serve as a safe space to commune and share ideas on topics of interest, challenges and all other things that come with being young. Cities can collaborate with the private sector to create community 'after school' centers where young people can meet and explore shared interests

Michael Tetteh Doku,23 yearsGhana

like 38

How would you look to teach skills to the younger generation so they are ready for the rapid change in the job market, due to artificial intelligence automating a lot of current roles?

read the response here

Anthony Hashemi,27 yearsUnited Kingdom

like 20

Cities can be very overstimulating and the pace of life is QUICK! We need meaningful investment in holistic and integrated mental health and wellbeing services – like mindfulness meditation, and person-centred talking therapies, so we are equipped with the knowledge and skills to regulate our feelings and feel empowered to take things slower

Eden,25 yearsUK

like 17

How can I speak to my mayor and tell him to fund our youth projects?

read the response here

Jasper,26 yearsUK

like 15

Effective city systems can only be created and sustained by being purposefully designed to support efforts that encourage inclusion and participation, while acknowledging the needs of all young people, regardless of their functional limitations, gender, color, background, etc. By doing this, we will be able to create cities that cater to everyone's needs and eliminate disparities in access to resources like primary healthcare, skills development, employment, and quality education

Michael Tetteh Doku,23 yearsGhana

like 12

Most of the power to bring about change is in policy makers because they are the ones in power. Based on science we have limited time to bring about positive change so in whatever we do we must start now. Climate change is life threatening so treat it serious. We must rethink the way we imagine our future cities. We need to create sustainable renewal. We need to tackle social inequalities. Most importantly we must create emission free modes of travel so that we reduce our carbon emissions

Leah Namugerwa,18 yearsUganda

like 11

Transport costs are extremely high. How can cities support underpaid youth getting to work?

read the response here

Niyi,25 years

like 10

Cities can be places of inclusion and community, but they can also be places of division and hatred. What can we do to best protect LGBTQ+ communities living in cities?

read the response here

Lewis,27 yearsUK

like 8

what measures do you take to meet the needs of marginalised communities, like LGBTQ+ youth, in your work?

read the response here

Eden,25 years

like 6

With the right education and guidance, we stand a chance to avoid the majority of the world's urban problems. Imagine a transformative education agenda backed by the needed technology and infrastructure to adequately prepare young people for life problem solving, empathy, and compassion for others. To help achieve this, Cities need to build sustainable partnerships with various actors; government agencies, community leaders, corporate organizations, researchers, and network service providers

Mohammed Hafiz Musah,24 yearsGhana

like 6

1 2 3 Next

Agenda of Fondation Botnar’s presence at WUF

Youth Assembly Panel Discussion and Signing Ceremony

Date: Sunday 26 June 2022
Time: 11.10-12.00 CET

The Youth Assembly will commence an engaging discussion involving Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Michel Zuluaga of our partner Despacio, our CEO Stefan Germann and others coming together to discuss digital innovation and frontier technologies, including AI for sustainable urban development.

Launch of Young Gamechangers program

Date: Sunday 26 June 2022
Time: TBC

The UN-Habitat Young Gamechangers is a three-year project focusing on intermediary cities in Senegal, India, and Colombia to improve the urban health and wellbeing of young people through their active engagement in urban governance, design of inclusive public spaces and digital engagement.

Launch of global DeclarACTION

Date: Sunday 26 June 2022
Time: 17.30-18.00 CET

Join our partners UN-Habitat for the launch of their initiative calling for youth to make a global DeclarACTION: a pledge for action relating to the SDGs – during the Youth Assembly.

Youth Zone Opening Ceremony

Date: Monday 27 June 2022
Time: 12.30-13.00 CET

Make sure to visit the Youth Zone, an interactive space for youth to network and connect. Meet young people who participate in our Fondation Botnar programs.

Youth Zone: Thematic Talk, SDG Scorecard Demo, Minecraft Demo

Date: Monday 27 June 2022
Time: TBC

Join sessions at the Youth Zone, supported by Fondation Botnar! Exciting session include a Thematic Talk on the SDG Scorecard (TIME) and Minecraft demo (TIME).

Networking session: From local to global: youth participation in implementing SDGs

Date: Monday 27 June 2022
Time: 16.00-17.30 CET

The Healthy Cities for Adolescent program promotes young people as important contributors and equal partners in creating sustainable solutions for their respective growing cities, with the aim of deepening knowledge about health and wellbeing issues and solutions. This roundtable brings together representatives from the program, as well as our partners Despacio to discuss how young people can be involved in creating solutions to issues created by rapid urbanisation.

“Localizing the SDGs: Transformative partnerships to accelerate achievement of the Global Goals at local level”

Date: Wednesday 29 June 2022
CET Time: 13.30-15.30 CET

Join an engaging session where our CEO Stefan Germann will discuss how to prioritise young people’s participation and leadership in achieving the SDGs.

Collaboration and philanthropy for better cities

Date: Wednesday 29 June 2022
Time: 16.00-18.00 CET

Join our CEO, Stefan Germann at this roundtable discussing how philanthropy can unleash the power of e collective action for equitable giving, innovation, and deepen support and strengthen relationships with communities to build inclusive safe resilient cities for all.

Video content headline

This is a title

Sed ut perspiciatis, unde omnis iste natus error sit volu ptatem accusantium dolore mque laudantium, totam rem aperiam eaque ipsa, quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt, explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem, quia voluptas sit, aspernatur.

Sed ut perspiciatis, unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam