As Urban October comes to a close, adolescents, community members and local officials across six countries of the Healthy Cities for Adolescents (HCA) programme have joined forces to reimagine the cities they call home.
To mark World Cities Day, the HCA programme is proud to launch a series of Declaration Walls – a dynamic collection of ideas and commitments from adolescents, community members and local officials who live, shape, and transform cities every day. These interactive Walls promote intergenerational dialogue bringing together perspectives shared throughout the “Our City. Our Say” campaign – from bold ideas and solutions from adolescents to the reflections of parents, educators, and city leaders.
From calls for safer and greener public spaces, playgrounds, and clean community corners, to better lighting, gender-sensitive safety, and opportunities for sports, art, and education – adolescents envision cities that nurture both physical and mental well-being, where they can move freely, feel safe, and truly belong.
More than a symbolic gesture, the Declaration Walls are a celebration of youth leadership, intergenerational dialogue, and community spirit. They highlight that healthier, safer, more inclusive cities are built when people of all ages connect across sectors, listen to one another, and collaborate for shared solutions for sustainable cities
Explore the Declaration Walls:
https://padlet.com/healthy_cities/board_for_youth (Youth)
https://padlet.com/healthy_cities/board_for_local_authorities (Local authorities)
https://padlet.com/healthy_cities/board_for_community_members (Community members)
Join the movement!
There are many ways to take part in the Our City. Our Say journey:
- Watch and share the campaign film to amplify adolescent voices through your networks.
- Create your own film to spotlight how young people in your respective initiatives are shaping healthier, more inclusive cities – and inspire other partners to do the same.
- Build your own Declaration Wall, bringing together diverse city stakeholders involved in your projects to share ideas and commit to action for sustainable urban futures.
- Host a workshop to start local conversations using #OurCityOurSay and explore what a healthy city means to your community.
Because this isn’t just about youth speaking up – it’s about cities listening, responding, and evolving together to create places where everyone can thrive. Together, we can keep the conversation and the collaboration going!
