The Young Gamechangers Initiative (YGI) turned Jatni into a living experiment in Participatory Budgeting (PB). In other words: people, especially the youth, got to decide how real public money gets spent on real parks, sports fields, and chill spaces.Â
Why does it matter? Instead of just complaining about broken parks and missing hangout spots, young people became the solution-makers. The city gave them the chance to vote, design, and lead.
And the best part? Thousands showed up.
What Happened before the City got to Vote 🛠️✨
Before a single vote was cast, the Young Gamechangers hit the streets.
They assessed the city’s public spaces, identifying where Jatni needed urgent upgrades to boost health, safety, and wellbeing.
Together with the community, they narrowed it down to two spaces that mattered the most:
- Maa Uttarayanee Youth Club Ground
- Mundia Sahi Park and Ground
Then came the creative magic:
Using Minecraft, the youth built digital versions of the spaces they dreamed of: packed with sports fields, walking paths, solar lights, gardens, and more.
They didn’t just design, they pitched their ideas to the community, listened to feedback, and adapted the plans based on what people really wanted.
Only after all this groundwork did the Participatory Budgeting (PB) process kick off, giving every resident the chance to vote on the final ideas.
Turning Ideas Into Decisions through Participatory Budgeting 🗳️
Before any votes were cast, the Young Gamechangers made sure citizens understood what was happening. They taught the basics of Participatory Budgeting:
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- How city budgets work 🏛️
- How public projects are planned 🔧
- Why public spaces matter for community health, safety, fun, and connection 🌳🎉
This wasn’t just about clicking a few buttons.
People knew exactly what was at stake and what their votes would shape.
Then, the Young Gamechangers launched the real action:
They set up multiple voting camps across Jatni, from the Town Hall to local parks, community centers, and even mobile booths near schools, markets, and coaching hubs.
At the voting camps, residents could:
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- Explore the Minecraft models and designs
- Read about each project’s cost, health benefits, and maintenance needs
- Spend their digital “wallet” wisely by selecting projects they believed in
- Cast their vote using a unique code and see real-time results
 Jatni’s Citizens Make Their Call 📢
The results? Massive engagement:
- Over 2,700 votes cast
- Mostly youth voters (18–35 years old)
- High turnout of women, elders, and local workers too
- 95%+ satisfaction with the voting platform
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Top-voted projects included:
- âš˝ A full football pitch
- 🚶‍♀️ New walking paths
- 🛋️ Shaded seating galleries
- 🌱 Solar street lighting
- ♻️ Waste disposal and recycling facilities
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Real Challenges. Real Wins. 🏆
Sure, it wasn’t all smooth. Some folks didn’t understand at first why they should care.
Some days had lower turnout because of heat waves and work schedules.
But the Young Gamechangers adapted:
- They set up mobile voting booths at markets and coaching centers.
- They personally explained the projects to skeptical voters.
- They pushed outreach on WhatsApp, Instagram, and even autorickshaw announcements.
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By the end, the trust was real. Communities felt seen. Voices felt heard.
What’s Next? Construction and New Life for Public Spaces 🛠️
Now that the votes are in, detailed architectural drawings and masterplans are being finalized.
Soon, real construction will start, based on what youth and communities chose.
Meanwhile, the city of Jatni just proved something huge:
🚀 Youth aren’t just the future. They’re the present.
🚀 And when given real power, they show up and build cities better than anyone else.
Want to see the full designs and how the votes went down?
👉 Check out the YGI PB Platform here!
