Places That Shape Us

What does a city look like when you experience it as a young person?

A park can be a first taste of freedom. A classroom can be where you find the confidence to speak up. A beach can hold childhood memories and reveal stories you had never noticed before.

As part of Urban October 2026, Places That Shape Us brings together first-hand stories from adolescents across Healthy Cities for Adolescents, told through the places that matter to them. Their lived experiences and ideas show why adolescents should be recognised as key stakeholders in shaping healthier and more liveable cities.

Explore their stories, photographs and drawings below.

Colombia A Park That Brings Everyone Together Adriana Panameño, 16 Colombia A Place That Gets Me Away from the Screen “María”, 15 Senegal A Place Where I Learned to Speak Up Eugène Bakaly, 16 Vietnam The Beach I Learned to See Differently Nguyen Ngoc Han, 15 Vietnam The Classroom Where I Found My Confidence Nguyen Anh Duong, 15 Vietnam The Mountain Where I Hear My Own Voice Nguyen Nhat Bao Nguyen, 17 Ecuador The Place Where I First Felt Free Pato, 19 Senegal The Place Where I Found My Voice Aminata Solange Dieng, 19 Ecuador Where Our Voices Can Travel Olienka Macías, 18