18 November 2024, Cairo. – Bold ideas were brought to life, local actions made global waves, and meaningful connections forged — these are the hallmarks of the Young Gamechangers Initiative (YGI). Over two transformative years, YGI has empowered youth from across the globe to reimagine urban spaces and contribute to a more inclusive future.
This November, young leaders from Jatni (India), Bargny (Senegal), and Armenia (Colombia) gathered in Cairo for the 12th World Urban Forum (WUF12). For the first time, participants met in person, sharing their unique experiences of implementing YGI in their respective cities. Country teams also convened on the sidelines of WUF, celebrating their collective achievements and planning for the future.
Here’s a closer look at the key sessions that the Young Gamechangers took part in:
#1: Participation in the main programme: Children & Youth Assembly
Valerhim Perez Uribe represented YGI Colombia at the Children & Youth Assembly. In role as a Youth Advisor from Armenia, Colombia, she actively engaged in discussions about youth involvement in sustainable urban development. A student at Quindio University and a member of Armenia’s Youth Council, Valerhim played a key role in shaping the Youth 2030 Cities Forum in her city. This forum led to the creation of the DeclarACTION of Armenia on Youth and Sustainable Urbanization, which highlighted youth-driven solutions for localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
During the assembly, Valerhim participated in the Respondents’ Panel after the high-level opening. She also contributed to the Youth 2030 Cities Panel, emphasizing the importance of incorporating youth voices in urban planning.
#2: Global Minecraft Challenge Award Ceremony
Do you remember the Global Minecraft Challenge? At WUF12, the Emu Nook team from Brazil was honoured as the first-place winner for their innovative public space design. Team member Beatriz Versiani received the USD5,000 on behalf of her team.
The Emu Nook design reimagined an underutilized area in Brasília into a vibrant, inclusive public park. Key features included revitalizing an abandoned street market, enhancing sports facilities, and celebrating local street culture with skateboarding zones and spaces for rap battles. By incorporating green infrastructure, modern utilities, and improved accessibility, the design promotes sustainability and fosters community engagement.
This creative project addresses social, economic, and environmental challenges, transforming the area into a dynamic hub for all ages.
#3: YGI Catch-up at the Indian Pavilion
At the session on ‘Transforming Cities – How Can Young Gamechangers Lead the Way?’Armenia Young Gamechanger Valerhim initiated the discussions by providing an overview of the Young Gamechanger Initiative project, which is being implemented in three cities. She also highlighted the current progress of the initiative in Armenia.
Following her, the Young Gamechangers from Jatni—Tapan and Chudamani—along with the Young Gamechangers from Bargny—Babacar, Nafi, and Fatoumata—introduced themselves. They shared insights from their personal journeys of becoming Young Gamechangers and discussed the progress their cities have made in the Young Gamechanger Initiative process.
The session proceeded with the Young Gamechangers presenting an overview of the digital tools and applications they have been learning as part of the project. They shared interesting insights gained from the various co-working studios and learning modules. Focusing on each of the co-working studios, the Young Gamechangers from Jatni and Bargny informed the audience about the different activities they have completed. They discussed how they used Kobo Toolbox to identify and prioritize public spaces for improvement within their communities.They also provided details about the data collected using the Inhabit Place application, which helped them identify challenges related to accessing public spaces in their cities. Additionally, they talked about facilitating co-design workshops through Minecraft, where youth and community members were engaged in visualising creative interventions for enhancing these public spaces.
Concluding the session, the Young Gamechangers outlined the next steps for their YGI journey. These steps involve digital participatory budgeting and organising an architectural design studio. Those steps will bring together technical experts, architecture firms, and local municipal officials to understand how to be included in municipal budgeting processes and how to design good quality public spaces better.
#4: Launch of the Young Gamechangers Special Issue in the Journal of Public Space
WUF12 marked a milestone by launching a special issue of the Journal of Public Space, titled Young Gamechangers: Amplifying Youth Voices for Healthier Public Spaces. This edition was envisioned as a platform to highlight young scholars’ work and show how youth are redefining urban environments. By exploring their impact on public space design, health, governance, and digital innovation, the journal emphasises the transformative power of youth contributions in shaping inclusive and healthier cities.
During the Urban Library event, “Shaping the Public Space Discourse with Unheard and Marginalised Voices,” Dr. Cherie Enns, the guest editor, shared the vision and development process behind this unique edition. A highlight of the session was the presentation of “Play for All: Towards Inclusive Public Space for Young Women in Cairo” by Anne-Sophie Spinaci. This impactful study illustrated how social media and recreational activities can create safer and healthier urban spaces for women, reinforcing the critical role of inclusive public space design in enhancing urban well-being.
#5: 5x5 Challenge
The 5×5 Youth Challenge brought a fresh, interactive twist to WUF12, designed to help participants build essential soft skills while making the most of their forum experience. Over five days, participants tackled five small, actionable tasks each day—ranging from fun icebreakers like “Ask a stranger to take your picture” to more impactful actions like “Attend an event and ask a speaker a question about their presentation.”
This simple yet effective challenge encouraged participants to step out of their comfort zones, build confidence, and connect meaningfully with others. Whether they were first-time attendees or seasoned professionals, the 5×5 Challenge offered a creative way to navigate the forum, turning everyday moments into opportunities for personal growth, networking, and skill-building.
More than just a fun initiative, the Challenge set a positive tone for how global forums can be more engaging and inclusive. Its success at WUF12 could inspire similar models for future events, creating experiences that are not only memorable but also transformative for participants.
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The Young Gamechangers Initiative showcased the power of youth-led innovation at WUF12, demonstrating that when young people are given the tools and platforms to lead, they can transform their communities – and the world.
As these inspiring young leaders return to their cities, they carry with them the knowledge, networks, and motivation to continue shaping the future of urban spaces. This is just the beginning for the Young Gamechangers Initiative – a movement redefining urban planning one project at a time.
