Hack Day: Apps for Rethinking Cities

The City Changer Hack Day workshops are expanding within Latin America.
The Hack Day is a youth contest during which, for 36 hours, participants design and implement a functional application for mobile phones and tablets with a social and urban focus. The winning team receives a 2000$ price and the possibility to convert their application in a commercial product within a 9 months period. At the end of this period of innovation, another business step starts in order to create a start-up, or technology compagny with a social impact.

After a first experience in Mexico City, the last weekend of April, another Hack Day was organized in Monterrey, Mexico. In this edition, under the theme of « Rethink the Public Space», 100 people got involved, between the participants, the staff, the jury, the sponsors, the organizers and the partners. 9 prototypes were developed. The goal was to create an application that would « improve the public space life, with shared visions, concretes projects and binding actions from active citizens, an open government and a responsible society ».
The urban context here was the Barrio Antiguo (Old City) of the City. It was established during the 16th century and went through some ups and downs over time. Originally dynamic from a commercial and cultural standpoint, it was reduced to a nightlife focus and is currently known to be an unsafe area where 52 families live. This situation though already started to change.

The next City Changer Hack Day will take place in San Salvador, on May 25th & 26th, under the theme «Youth for Sustainable Financing».

More info: http://www.onuhabitat.org.

Call for applications – International Student Design Competition 2014

The International Council for Caring Communities (ICCC) and UN-Habitat, within the I’m a City Changer initiative, launch open call for proposals for the International Student Design Competition 2014, A Society for All Ages.

The Competition invites architecture students around the world to apply their creative talents in developing solutions, which integrate older person into the fabric of the community and fully include them in all social, cultural, and productive activities.

The program is aimed at answering future urban challenges: Is it possible to design successful, diversified and multi-generational communities for older adults including aspects of information and communication technology (ICT)? How are older adults fully integrated, connected to and fully engaged in their communities?

To enter the competition, an individual or teams of students must register on the www.international-iccc.org entry form. The entries are due on or before 15 September 2013 and projects must be postmarked by 31 December 2013.

Awards:

First Prize $10,000

Second Prize $5,000

Third Prize $2,500

Second Urban Competition – I’m a City Changer

UN-Habitat, in collaboration with Escuela Digital (Digital School), a training center in digital design based in Mexico City, invites all the students and young architects to the second architectural ideas competition “I’m a City Changer, Urban Future 2013″ to develop a proposal for the improvement of public space, contributing to the global campaign I’m a City Changer.

The competition is open to all the professionals working in the field of architecture as well as students of similar interest. Interdisciplinary teams can also take part in the contest.

The purpose of the contest is to foster a culture in recovering public spaces that suffer from urban deterioration problems, in order to promote best practices in urban design and planning, which in turn promote improvements in the quality of life for users of the city.

Proposals should make explicit use of design alternatives that result in an urban space socially inclusive, economically prosperous and environmentally sustainable, through sustainable design program that links to a harmonious context, aesthetic and comprehensive.

For more information, please visit: http://www.escueladigital.com.mx/citychanger2013/concursocity2013.html

City Changers in New York discuss Sustainable Urban Development

Within the framework of the global consultations on the Post 2015 Development Agenda and the road to Habitat III Conference in 2016, UN-Habitat and the International Council for Caring Communities (ICCC) organized an international working session composed of government representatives, private sector, entrepreneurs, educators, health and culture experts to leverage their insights and expertise in addressing one of themes of the 21st Century: Prosperity in Cities.

Mr. Jeff Evenson, from the Canadian Urban Institute, presented the concept of cultural mapping as being “a powerful catalyst for place-based city building, wealth creation, sustainability and social cohesion”. He underlined its crucial importance as it both constitutes an important contributor to wealth creation and provides great support to a sustainable environment by enhancing interactions and improving public spaces.

Ms. Caroline Figueres, from the International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD) highlighted the role of the Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) in urban futures. She pointed out the crucial role of ICT for people to improve their lives, and especially for urban dwellers to improve their everyday lives in urban settings.

The session built upon to rethink and redefine current practices and identify viable recommendations for scaling-up successful projects. Addressing the power of social innovation in urban areas, the Italian delegation from the city of Teramo presented the project “Citta Europea del Benessere Social” (European Welfare City), and the Chinese delegation exposed the International Mongolian Hospital’s Model as an example of innovative medical services to improve the urban quality of life. The event also highlighted several projects on the relation of ICT to Sustainable Urban Development and the work of some civil society groups as City Changers.

The Session was part of the “Age of Connectivity: Cities, Magnets of Hope. Imagining the Possible” Dialogue Series which addresses the challenges facing a rapidly urbanizing world.

Vote for the changes that would make the most difference to worldwide cities

 

MY World is a global survey promoted by the United Nations and partners asking you to choose your priorities for a better world. Results will be shared with world leaders in setting the next global development agenda Post 2015.

The rapidly increasing dominance of cities as the habitat of humankind places the process of urbanization among the most significant global trends of the twenty-first century.  Cities and urban places in general now occupy the center stage in global development. Significantly, cities and towns are a major factor in environmental trends and sustainability processes.

In this sense, the “I’m a City Changer” Campaign encourages worldwide citizens to join the dialogue and to participate in the e-discussions on Urbanization, Cities and Sustainable Development for Consultations on the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

Further information:

http://www.myworld2015.org/

http://www.worldwewant2015.org

 

Tell us about the world you want, because your voice matters.

CITY CHANGERS IN AFRICITIES 2012

This new critical phase of urbanization presents tremendous opportunities for strengthening Africa’s foundations towards a new level of development. But the Continent’s overall transformation will largely depend on the way we plan, build and manage urban growth, deliver basic services, provide the best environment to contribute to prosperity, enable the civil society to have a voice and participate in the decision-making of the African city of tomorrow.

Time has come to change the way we build the African city. But in order to bring about change, we need to unite and allow City Changers to inspire others. This is the spirit of I’m a City Changer in Africa.

City changers are the Mayors, urban decision makers, entrepreneurs and experts, all citizens, men and women, who believe that change is possible and are determined to make this happen.

I’m a City Changer in Africa is supported by the World Urban Campaign, a global movement and knowledge sharing platform coordinated by UN-Habitat on initiatives, actions and policies, driving positive change in cities.  It is also a global partnership designed to promote a positive vision of sustainable urbanization and position the urban agenda at the highest level in development policies. Its mission is to achieve these objectives by engaging and mobilizing partners around the world from every walk of life and prepare a Global Urban Agenda towards Habitat III, the Third United Nations conference on housing and sustainable urban development to be held in 2016, twenty years after the Habitat II Conference, held in Istanbul (1996).

Join the Movement at Africities 

I’m a City Changer in Africa will be launched at AFRICITIES Special Session entitled ‘I’m a City Changer in Africa – Change ta Ville en Afrique’ on Wednesday 5 December from 4.00 to 6.00 pm. The Senegalese Campaign “Defar Sama Deuk’ will be presented as the first campaign in Africa. Regional partners of the World Urban Campaign (UCLGA, ENDA, IAGU, AUA) will also discuss the Manifesto for Cities, and discuss the particular issues to be addressed in Africa.

 

Naples Bike Festival a success for the city

City Changer Bikers in Naples don’t stop. From the 21 to 23 of September in Naples took place the first Festival dedicated to the bicycle, becoming, the biggest bike festival ever carried out in central and southern Italy.

High participation and involvement by all the cyclists in the activities; the Festival had around 3,000 visitors and more than 1,000 people participated in the bike rides.

The event was organized by Napoli Pedala, a network of associations and movements that promotes bicycling culture in the city. The bike is not only as transport in the time-out or to go at work, but is also a symbol of a new idea of ​​sustainability, sociality and humanization of urban centers.

The festival was also an amazing showcase of small business on biking, as well as on other products related to energy conservation and sustainable transportation. Creative and inspirational ideas were also shown, as the closing concert by Tetes de Bois on a self-sufficient stage made by pedals to be ridden by spectators to produce the needed energy.

The use of sustainable transport, such as the bike, is a city changer’s example. Bike lovers contribute to improve cities traffics conditions, to reduce air pollution and to improve social relations.

The next goal for Naples is to bring the Bicycle Film Festival International Exhibition. Good luck!

Discover your city with a bike!

Yesterday morning it was an ideal sunny day to pedal all together. The
Urban bike Tour started at exactly ten o’ clock and the group was headed by the
UN-Habitat Executive Director Joan Clos and the Mayor of Naples Luigi De Magistris who pedaled on the bike lane along the wonderful seaside free from cars.

At the end of the tour they arrived in Piazza Vittoria where a crowd of people and many group of cyclist with their bikes waiting to greet them.
The Urban Bike Tour ended at Castel dell’Ovo.

It’s a new way to live the city and the citizens reaction has been very enthusiastic. They recently start using the bike lane and they soon loved this kind of sustainable mobility. It is the proof that a simple bike run can be a starting point to better this city.

City Changers in Naples

 

After launching the campaign in Rio de Janeiro, now the initiave will effect in the city of Naples within the ambit of World Urban Forum.

The WUF6 takes place from 1-7 of September and in these days City Changer will plan different activities in Naples. Among them, there is the first match of the Habitat Cup, in Terme di Agnano, a match between Naples Scuola Calcio Arci Scampia vs. United Nation. Another City Changer activity is the Urban Bike Tour to promote sustainable mobility among citizens of Naples. Within the claim “Io miglioro la mia città”, the Urban Bike Tour will run through the first new bike line of Naples, in front of the sea.

During the WUF the organization will encourage all participants to change the Facebook and Twitter profile pictures with photos of Naples to spread the City Changer Campaign. Download your pics from here.

 

The WUF6 takes place from 1-7 of September and in these days City Changer will plan different activities in Naples. Among them, there is the first match of the Habitat Cup, in Terme di Agnano, a match between Naples Scuola Calcio Arci Scampia vs. United Nation. Another City Changer activity is the Urban Bike Tour to promote sustainable mobility among citizens of Naples. Within the claim “Io miglioro la mia città”, the Urban Bike Tour will run through the first new bike line of Naples, in front of the sea.

During the WUF the organization will encourage all participants to change the Facebook and Twitter profile pictures with photos of Naples to spread the City Changer Campaign. Download your pics from here.

City Changer Julius Mwelu in the Olympic Torch Relay

Julius Mwelu is a photographer from the Mathare slum in Nairobi, in Kenya. He applied to The International Olympic Committee (IOC) to participate  in the Olympic Torch Relay and he was accepted, as an important recognition of his personal achievement from slum dweller to professional and world-renowned photographer.

This morning, Julius Mwelu became part of history when he participated in the Olympic Torch Relay for the London Olympic Games 2012  in Norwich City, United Kingdom. Julius’ participation is part of the “I’m a City Changer”campaign, as an example of an initiative that encourages all urban dwellers to be proactive and improve the living conditions in their cities.

“This is a dream come true for me because participating in the Olympics is almost every human being’s dream. I am glad that in a way I took part in this historic event by carrying the Olympic Torch,” a beaming Julius said after the race.

Julius says: “I started taking photos when I was just 12 years old but my first attempts were not very good because I had missed people’s hands and sometimes their heads! But no pain no gain, and after two or three months I become a better photographer, under the Shootback project.” Julius eventually managed to hold a solo exhibition in Holland and published a book of photos titled, “Julius,” about his experience in the slum.

“In my normal routine of photography, I would meet with enthusiastic kids in the community, who would ask me how the camera works and how the photos come out.  That’s how I came up with the idea for the Mwelu Foundation through which I help youth living in slums to express their lives through photography and video.”

By the time the Games will kick off, some 8,000 Torchbearers will have carried the Flame through more than 1,000 cities, towns and villages in the United Kingdom over a period of 70 days. Each one of them has a personal history to share with the other people who are watching.

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