Safe and Sound Cities

ONE VIDEO. MANY CITIES. ONE GLOBAL HEART. 🐝✨ This video is a reflection of a journey that began with simple conversations—young people from different countries, different time zones, and different realities deciding to meet halfway and build something meaningful together. What you will see here is not just footage. It is the echo of shared stories, the weight of lived experiences, and the brightness of ideas shaped by youth who believe change is possible. From Ecuador to Colombia, from the Philippines to the world, this piece captures the moments where we listened to each other, learned from each other, and found unexpected connections between our communities. It is a reminder that even when oceans separate us, our hopes, challenges, and dreams often rhyme. This video stands as a collective heartbeat—a celebration of identity, resilience, and the courage of young people who refuse to remain silent. It is a testament to collaboration built on respect, patience, and the belief that every voice deserves to be heard. More than anything, this is a story of coming together—of weaving cultures, bridging differences, and creating something bigger than any one city or country. To everyone who shared their voice, this video is for you. A tribute to unity. A celebration of youth power. A promise that when we move together, we rise together. #TheHiveVibe #SafeAndSoundCities

| Impulsaremos y realizaremos dos intervenciones urbanas con inversión internacional de $60 mil 🫱🏻‍🫲🏽 Con una inversión de 60 mil dólares provenientes de fondos internacionales, desde Safe and Sound Cities impulsaremos dos nuevas intervenciones urbanas creadas por jóvenes que durante más de ocho meses trabajaron en procesos de investigación, planificación y diseño participativo dentro de la Urbano Escuela de Placemaking. En conjunto con los 18 jóvenes de Urbano, realizamos encuestas, recorridos territoriales y procesos de co-creación para transformar espacios públicos estratégicos de Ambato, apostando por entornos más seguros, inclusivos y pensados para la convivencia. Entregamos oficialmente ambos proyectos a la alcaldesa de Ambato, Ing. Diana Caiza, en un evento donde reafirmamos que las juventudes también transforman ciudad. “Entre Panas” renovará el parque Julio Jaramillo, frente al Hospital Santa Inés, mientras que “Camina Nomás” intervendrá el trayecto entre el campus Ingahurco de la Universidad Técnica de Ambato y la parada de buses del Parque de la Laguna. Ambos proyectos fueron creados por jóvenes y también serán ejecutados por ellos, con el apoyo de: 👇 El proyecto @s2cities Safe and Sound Cities- Ciudad Segura y Sana es con orgullo una iniciativa liderada a nivel global por Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation, organizada por Swiss Philanthropy Foundation, con el apoyo de @fondation_botnar y a nivel local con el liderazgo el @municipioambato e implementada por @huasipichanga y @tandemfundacion

✨We’re here with another feature in our spotlight series showcasing contributions from the @s2cities special issue of The Journal of Public Space (@cityspacearchitecture )—capturing insights from two years of collective research, learning, and youth-led action across our global programme. Spotlighted this time: “From Local Voices to Global Impact: Crafting MEL for Youth-Led Placemaking in Cross-Country Programmes.” In this article, Juan Carlos Muñoz Mora, Estefany Peña Rojas, and Andrés Felipe Sanchez Saldarriaga from our global MEL partner @eafit discuss an adaptive MEL framework, drawing from the S2Cities programme. The study highlights the necessity of real-time adaptation to local youth experiences, the need to balance standardized evaluation with localized indicators, and the critical role of young people as co-creators in MEL processes, underscoring the importance of a flexible yet rigorous framework that captures urban dynamics’ evolving nature. 💡This paper offers valuable insights for urban planners, designers, and policymakers that may be interested in the development of MEL frameworks and processes with flexibility and provisions for youth participation, with properties that can be replicated and scaled around the globe. 📖 Read the paper: /index.php/jps/article/view/1854 [Link in Bio] Stay tuned as we continue to feature each contribution from this special issue. #journalofpublicspace #cityspacearchitecture #safeandsoundcities

En Colombia somos más de 12 millones de jóvenes. Una fuerza real en este país. Lo que vivimos en Bogotá lo confirma: estos espacios no son solo para escuchar, son para participar e incidir. 🗣️ Votar con conciencia no es opcional, es hacerse cargo. 🗳️ Porque este país también es de todos y todas… y no es para irse, es para transformarlo. 🇨🇴 . . . @fmisangre @caracoltv #elpaísdelosjóvenes #noselodéacualquiera

🚨 Opportunity Alert: Join S²Cities as a Global Convening Support Partner 🌍✨ 🗓 Deadline: 31 May 2026 S²Cities is inviting applications from organisations to help organise and manage the Global Convening in 2027 as a Global Convening Support Partner! The selected partner will: 🔹Support Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation (GIB) in developing a suitable format / approach for the 2027 Global Convening which meets the intended objectives (including in-person convening components as well as the scope of VR and digital formats). 🔹Lead all event management logistics including procurement of necessary venues and materials, managing attendees, etc. 🔹Help document learnings and highlights on behalf of GIB and S²Cities in alignment with the programme’s Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) framework. 🔹Work with the S²Cities Global Youth Advocacy Partner, to develop strategies to activate and expand the S²Cities Global Learning Network (GLN). 👉 Grant amount available: 112,000 CHF Eligibility: All organisations that are able to meet the above criteria and/or have experience organising events across multiple countries/cities and platforms are welcome to apply. 📥 For more details and to download the RFP, visit: https://bit.ly/42PXphT #safeandsoundcities #opportunity #eventmanagement

On April 18, two groups of young people from Basel, Switzerland took the stage at the Youth Innovation Awards Ceremony to pitch ideas to improve safety for LGBTQIA+ communities in their city.🏳️‍🌈 Presenting before a jury of experts in queer visibility and mental health and an audience of government, private sector, and young people—the teams Lavender Sanctuary and Marsha’s Winkel showcased initiatives focused on helping people find queer-friendly businesses and creating spaces that are inclusive, accessible, and safe ✨ Behind the scenes, the teams received extensive mentoring and hands-on support to refine their ideas, strengthening their concepts, mapping their city, and building a deeper systems understanding of safety challenges 🧠📍 Both teams were awarded seed funding to bring their ideas to life and begin implementation 🚀 Follow @s2citiesbasel for more updates on how these youth-led initiatives come to life! #basel #lgbtqcommunity #youthledaction #safeandsoundcities

En #Cartagena, un grupo extraordinario de jóvenes líderes está despertando con una idea clara: que la ciudad puede ser más sana, más segura y más suya. Así inicia #S2Cities 2026. Un programa global que impulsa liderazgos jóvenes en todo el mundo. Durante dos días, las y los jóvenes de la Escuela de Liderazgo Juvenil de la segunda cohorte del programa, se encontraron cara a cara en este Bootcamp para conocerse y comenzar a habitar este proceso con seguridad y sentido. Nos miramos entre todxs, compartimos nuestras historias, reconocimos nuestros talentos y dimos ese primer paso a una conexión real y tejedora que se puede lograr cuando hay personas dispuestas a tener presencia plena, escuchar y aprender.

🎉 S²Cities welcomes new local implementation partners from Ghana! 🌟 With the addition of two new programme cities, we are excited to introduce the partners who will drive local impact and enable city-wide, youth-led engagement and safety innovation in Sekondi-Takoradi and Cape Coast. 👉 In Sekondi-Takoradi, Life Relief Foundation will lead the local consortium engaging youth and delivering capacity-strengthening efforts. The organisation is committed to advancing the health and well-being of women, children, and underserved communities, working across areas to reach those who need it most. They will be supported by ATRA Consultancy, specialising in organisational development, research, and training, and LoGig, which brings expertise in technological enterprise solutions. 👉 In Cape Coast, Play Soccer Ghana will the lead local implementation consortium. As a sport-for-development organisation, they have experience running youth empowerment programmes using football as a tool to foster young people’s growth, leadership, and community engagement. They will be supported by iSpace Foundation, a leading startup accelerator and innovation hub. 🤝✨ We look forward to collaborating with our new partners to build local capacity, mobilise young people, and support youth-led movements that are transforming cities into safer, more urban environments. 🔔 Stay tuned for updates as implementation begins in our two new S²Cities programme cities! 💜🌱 #sekonditakoradi #capecoast #youthaction #urbanyouth #safeandsoundcities

✨ We’re here with another feature in our spotlight series showcasing contributions from the @s2cities special issue of The Journal of Public Space—capturing insights from two years of collective research, learning, and youth-led action across our global programme. Spotlighted this time: “Youth in Placemaking: Barriers and Benefits, Lessons from Cuenca, Bandung and Envigado.” In this article, Viviana A. Cordero-Vinueza (University of Groningen) and Vija Viese (Norwegian University of Science and Technology) discuss youth-led placemaking efforts in Ecuador, Indonesia, and Colombia through interviews, focus groups, and secondary data, to map out the benefits of youth public presence. The study reveals hurdles related to collaborating with stakeholders, persisting stigma towards youth, and linguistic challenges, but the resulting benefits of these efforts reported increased use of space, skills, sense of safety, connectedness, and youth agency. 💡This paper offers valuable insights for urban planners, designers, and policymakers that may be interested in placemaking projects for the safety and security of young people in cities, with properties that can be replicated and scaled around the globe. 📖 Read the paper: /index.php/jps/article/view/1808 [Link in Bio] Stay tuned as we continue to feature each contribution from this special issue ✨ #youthledaction #urbanyouth #placemaking #safeandsoundcities

El proceso Unir para Construir comenzó con un primer encuentro de apertura: un espacio multisectorial de escucha y reflexión colectiva para fortalecer la participación e incidencia juvenil en Cartagena. 25 actores provenientes de entidades públicas, privadas, organizaciones sociales, academia y plataformas juveniles se reunieron para observar el sistema, comprender sus dinámicas y construir una mirada compartida sobre el problema.

🌟 Join the S²Cities Global Learning Network 👉 Applications are now open for public sector agencies, non-profits, academia, and private organisations to be part of a global network advancing youth-led urban transformation. 🌐 Since 2021, the Safe and Sound Cities Programme (S²Cities) by GIB has been empowering young people to co-create safer, more inclusive, and resilient cities through real, locally grounded solutions. 🌱 🤝 🌏 Launched in 2023, the Global Learning Network (GLN) brings together cities, youth leaders, and institutions to drive urban safety through collaboration, knowledge exchange, and tested implementation models across regions. 💡 As a GLN member you get - • Access to cross-city knowledge exchange and global best practices • Opportunities to collaborate with city governments, youth leaders, and experts • Participation in global convenings, workshops, and learning exchanges • Visibility for your work through a shared knowledge platform • Pathways to build partnerships and co-develop impactful urban safety solutions 💫 📣 Join us in shaping cross-city partnerships, shared learning, and impactful action to create safer urban environments for young people! Be part of the movement—apply now. Visit /blog/opportunity-to-join-the-s2cities-global-learning-network to learn more and apply! 💜 . . . #urbanyouth #youthinaction #safeandsoundcities

🌏✨ Inside Our First Global Quarterly Meeting of 2026 🤝🚀 ✨ Last month, partners from across our network came together for the 1st Global Quarterly Meeting of 2026—an opportunity to reflect on progress across cities, exchange knowledge, and celebrate the momentum driving the programme forward. 📖 A key highlight was the introduction of local partners from our two newest programme cities in Ghana—Sekondi-Takoradi and Cape Coast. The session offered some insights into the cities and the youth safety challenges they are navigating. We also welcomed new research partners from our programme regions—South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa—who will contribute research and knowledge on building youth-driven, safer and more inclusive cities, drawing on on-ground learnings and insights. 🚀 GIB led the discussion on the Global Learning Network (GLN) as a youth-centred global community advancing safe, inclusive, and sustainable cities—while moving towards its institutionalisation through the GLN Charter, outlining its vision, structure, membership, and offerings. 👉 Partners got a first look at the revamped S2Cities website—now featuring a refreshed interface, dedicated city pages, a youth-led initiatives section, programme impact updates, new features, and an expanded resource repository. 💬 Reflections from the past quarter captured progress across multiple fronts—from implementation in Envigado and Basel, to the conclusion of innovation rounds in Ecuador, the Philippines, and Cartagena, and GIB’s visit to Baguio and Naga for a Southeast Asia GLN Regional Roundtable. 🤝 Breakout room sessions focused on the newly selected youth initiatives across programme cities —surfacing key risks and challenges, while enabling peer exchange to strengthen implementation. 🏙️ These Global Quarterly Meetings continue to strengthen a shared pathway—rooted in collaboration, learning, and a collective commitment to safer, more inclusive cities for youth everywhere. 🔔 Stay connected with the Safe and Sound Cities Programme (@s2cities ) for more updates and opportunities in the months ahead! #urbanyouth #youthinaction #safeandsoundcities