edited June 23, 2006

YOUTH STANDUP TO BE HEARD

From the Child and Youth Friendly Cities networking session, to the Youth Roundtable, to the backrooms of the World Youth Forum drafting sessions, youth are demanding to be heard.

"The World Urban Forum youth program is unprecedented in its reflection of the diversity, passion and expertise of youth worldwide on urban issues", states Kevina Power, WUF International youth coordinator. "With over 25,000 people consulted leading up to the WUF, and 400+ youth from over 40 different countries attending, this forum truly gives direction to both UN HABITAT and all institutions local and global on what youth are doing, what they can offer, and what their role is."

YOUTH COURT CONTROVERSY AND PASSION
The Youth Leaders of TODAY and TOMORROW Roundtable was the one of the largest roundtables held at the WUF with over 500 youth and adult allies attending.

The most prevalent theme in this round table was the need for UN HABITAT and other institutions to move from tokenistic involvement of youth to mainstreaming youth engagement across all stages of policy and programme planning, design, implementation, and evaluation.

For the Youth Roundtable report click here

YOUTH CLIMB FOR PEACE:
CLIMB KICKS OF WORLD URBAN FORUM 3 YOUTH AND PEACE EVENTS
On Sunday, June 11th, a team of twenty youth, took on the challenge of climbing the Stawamus Chief to raise awareness about youth involvement in peace building and conflict resolution.

For more information and photos click here

For more information on the 2006 climb up Kilimanjaro click here

GLOBAL HIP-HOP MAINSTAGE CONCERT AT THE WORLD URBAN FORUM. Athenians will take place on Thursday June 22nd at the Earth: The World Urban Festival and will feature UN Habitat designated Messenger Of Truth (PDF) performers from four continents.

PLOTTING TO BE HEARD
Groups of young people in Vancouver and Nairobi, Kenya are pushing for a direct role in UN discussion of urbanization. Around the world, young people are helping to ensure the sustainability of their communities and to shape the future of their surroundings.

Read more in Vancouver Sun Newspaper

STORIES OF YOUTH LEADERS:
KENYAN HIP HOP ARTIST EMPOWERS YOUTH
Gidi Gidi Maji Maji are an acclaimed Kenyan hip-hop duo with a hit song Unbwogable, that helped opposition parties bring down the ruling parties 40 year reign in 2002. They are ambassadors for a UN initiative called Messengers of Truth, which utilizes musicians to engage young people to be actively involved in local, national and international leadership.

Read more on Gad Gad Maji Maji in Vancouver Sun

UN HABITAT YOUTH AMBASSADOR JOAQUIM CHISSANO PROMOTES "CULTURE OF PEACE"
Held on the first day of the World Urban Forum, the Cross-cultural Peacebuilding networking session presented by YOUCAN and Rock Paper Scissors attracted a full house of over 150 people as well as newly minted UN HABITAT Youth Ambassador Chissano.

Click here for more information on Peacebuilding by YOUCAN and Rock Paper Scissors.

Click here for more information on Joaquim Chissano

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