OUR FOCUS
The world faces many challenges where ethical co-creation between children/young people and politicians can offer smart solutions. Co-creation methods can be applied to all themes..
Inspired by our Youth Advisory Board, we initially focus on four themes in our partnerships: co-creating democratic processes, promoting equality, education for all and developing cities and urban spaces. Together.

CO-CREATING: EDUCATION FOR ALL. LIFELONG.
Far from every child in the world experiences the fundamental right to education. This is neither wise nor acceptable, for individuals or for society.
But with the speed at which the world is evolving and the fundamental challenges that we must collectively find solutions to, it is no longer an up-to-date model to graduate after new technologies are invented, e.g. nine years of schooling combined with a secondary education and possibly a medium or higher education. We need to be lifelong learners.
Therefore, politicians need to work together with the children to ensure schooling for all children/young people in the world, but also that everyone has access to different forms of education and training throughout life. Locally, nationally and internationally.

CO-CREATING: HEALTH
"Everyone should have access to clean water, fresh air, healthy food, and opportunities for physical activity. To be able to live a physically healthy life.
Playing is just as important as vitamins. Regardless of age.
Social relationships, education, access to art, cultural understanding, and opportunities for creative expression are important elements of "a healthy life" and significant for enhancing quality of life.
Similarly, everyone should have access to medical treatment, regardless of where they live and who they are".
Quotes from young people's manifestos / UN workshops

CO-CREATING: DEMOCRACY
Democracy plays out at all levels - from our local communities (e.g. local student and school councils) to national governments and international cooperation forums such as the UN.
Many local politicians believe they are taking children and young people's perspectives into account, by listening to them for 20 minutes once a year. However, that's not co-creation. How can young people become an active part of the local political environment? Could a youth council could be a solution? Politicians and young people should explore this through a co-creation process.
While school classes' visit to a government building can help explain what democracy can be, it doesn't give children and young people any real influence. So how do we make this happen?
Large global organizations, which may have started with the noblest of ambitions, have not all kept up with the times and are therefore at risk of becoming irrelevant - even though they work with very important policy areas. We need to find new ways of cooperation and development so that everyone who wants across generations, cultures, walks of life, etc. can participate in the overall development of our common society and our shared planet.
Democracy is not a given. We must protect and continuously develop our democracy every day. Democracy must - in the true sense of the word - be co-created.

CO-CREATING: INCREASING EQUALITY
We are all different, but we must have equal rights - regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, nationality, etc. This is why it's important to include many different perspectives when creating new solutions together.
It is important locally, nationally and globally to find ways and solutions so that everyone can be treated fairly and freely express their personality.
If a school has traditionally gender-segregated facilities, such as restrooms, it can be difficult for some children to make choices about which door to enter.
If you belong to a minority, such as an ethnic, you don't have fewer rights than others. Of course not. However, some people may find that they must compromise daily on what they truly want.
If you live in a vibrant multicultural society, you experience enriching encounters with other cultures. It is important to understand that there must be room for everyone on everyone's terms.
The examples of inequality are countless. While this topic is challenging, it's certainly one of the most important topics to address through co-creation.

CO-CREATING: URBAN SPACES AND CITIES.
We own our urban spaces together. Therefore, it is only natural that we create them together.
Unfortunately, this isn't always the case. By co-creating, solutions can be more innovative and ownership is greater. It also has a beneficial effect on the subsequent operation and maintenance of urban spaces - we take better care of what we have co-created. We can be proud of and use open spaces - not just pass through them.
In some cities, co-creating can be used to develop the defined areas - such as putting an industrial site to a new or repurposing a disused playground as a future meeting place across generations. Often squares in front of town halls where political decisions affecting the local area are made do not reflect local life.
Why not ask children and young people which urban areas are unsafe and uncomfortable to play, meet, cycle?
A neighborhood or a small town could be transformed to promote community or informal learning environments.
There are many benefits to co-creation between children/young people, adult citizens, urban planners, artists, designers and certainly also politicians.
Photo: SUPERFLEX

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