How can small changes lead to big impact for young people in cities? The new HCA-II guide for practitioners, “Shift the Status Quo – Applying a Systems Approach to Adolescent Health and Wellbeing in Cities,” offers practical answers.
The guide is designed for project teams, youth workers, and partners who want to move beyond surface-level fixes and address the deeper conditions shaping adolescent wellbeing. It provides tools, methods, and real stories from across HCA projects.
- In Ghana, the Adolescent Parliament successfully pushed city leaders to reopen a long-abandoned youth library – a modest but meaningful policy change driven by young voices.
- In Colombia, lessons from the Vivo Mi Calle project were reimagined to create a “Healthy Route” bike path in Palmira, linking adolescent wellbeing with urban mobility and sporting events.
- In Senegal, youth advocates influenced the mayor of Thiès to commit public funds to adolescent health and nutrition.
These examples show how small shifts in decision-making, resources, or partnerships can create ripple effects that last.
