Since 1999, 12 August has marked International Youth Day to acknowledge and amplify the importance of youth participation in current affairs. On this occasion, OPENS – Omladinska prestonica Evrope Novi Sad, in partnership with us, organized the Youth After the Pandemic: ONE EUROPE event.

The focus was on imagining youth friendly quarters in cities, on recreating communities through creativity and music and on building climate-friendly cities.

András Farkas, the strategic director of PONT Group who participated in the event, said regarding the relationship between youth and built environment:

“It is essential for al of us to feel as being part of the same, ONE Europe. For young people, experiencing different environments in all parts of Europe is paramount for their health, learning and agency. At the same time, European cities need to be aware that youth friendly spaces are essential for young people’s sense of safety and development. The idea of youth quarters is the next step forward where we don’t reshape just buildings but we consider the complexes of buildings and open spaces from a youth perspective.”

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Photo credits: OPENS / Sara Kecman