Webinar ‘Youth Leading The Way: Healthy City for All’
In the scope of the Healthy Cities for Adolescents (HCA) project, phase 2, funded by Fondation Botnar and managed by Ecorys, UNICEF Viet Nam in collaboration with the Viet Nam-UK Institute for Research & Executive Education (VNUK – University of Da Nang), organized a webinar “Youth Leading the Way: Healthy City for All”.
In her opening speech, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh An – Social Policy Specialist, UNICEF Viet Nam, emphasized the project’s aim: that everyone, especially adolescents, can live happily, safely, be respected and have opportunities to develop themselves and especially those from vulnerable groups – are facilitated to participate in the process of shaping the city in which they live.
Following, Ms. Phan Thanh Van – Communications Director of To He social enterprise shared the journey of empowering young people, through “Champion Press”, where adolescents are trained in communication methods, practice creating communication content and disseminating environmental messages.
On the VNUK side, Ms. Doan Minh Thu, Deputy Head of Student Affairs, Partners and Communication Office, in charge of Maker Innovation Space, introduced the model of applying technology in education and supporting vulnerable adolescents in Da Nang such as STEM Summer School or science and technology competitions Youth! On Hackathon and U-Invent.
Meanwhile, the youth representatives of the project, the Adolescents & Youth Advisory Group (AYAG), sincerely shared their stories and inspiring feelings during their participation in the project, about becoming agents of change instead of just beneficiaries, thereby providing suggestions to improve activities, so that activities and projects are more inclusive to vulnerable groups.
The webinar ended with many emotions and good lessons, practices shared. Through the open and creative dialogue space, adolescents are expected to become co-creators, contributing to the shaping of a sustainable, equitable and future-oriented Da Nang city.
About the Healthy Cities for Adolescents Project
The Healthy Cities for Adolescents in Da Nang (HCA Da Nang) project, funded by Fondation Botnar and managed by Ecorys, aims to build Da Nang into a healthy, dynamic and adolescents-friendly city, ensuring the well-being and active participation of them.
As part of the Child-Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI), implemented by Da Nang People’s Committee in collaboration with UNICEF Viet Nam, the project is undertaken a consortium: UNICEF Viet Nam, Da Nang City Government and the the Viet Nam-UK Institute for Research & Executive Education (VN-UK).
Some images from the webinar:
