Don't Just Listen- Do Something!
Lessons Learned about Governance from the Growing Up in Cities Project

Louise Chawla
Whitney Young School of Honors and Liberal Studies
Kentucky State University

Natasha Blanchet-Cohen
International Institute for Child Rights and Development
University of Vancouver

Nilda Cosco
Natural Learning Initiative, College of Design
North Carolina State University

David Driskell
Department of City and Regional Planning
Cornell University

Jill Kruger
Department of Anthropology and Archaeology
University of South Africa

Karen Malone
Department of Social Sciences
University of Wollongong

Robin Moore
Natural Learning Initiative, College of Design
North Carolina State University

Barry Percy-Smith
Social and Organisational Learning as Action Research (SOLAR)
University of the West of England

Social and Organisational Learning as Action Research (SOLAR)
University of the West of England

Citation: Chawla, Louise, Natasha Blanchet-Cohen, Nilda Cosco, David Driskell, Jill Kruger, Karen Malone, Robin Moore and Barry Percy-Smith (2005). "Don't Just Listen- Do Something! Lessons Learned about Governance from the Growing Up in Cities Project ." Children, Youth and Environments 15 (2): 53-88. Retrieved [date] from http://www.colorado.edu/journals/cye/

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Abstract

Eight practitioners in the Growing Up in Cities project of UNESCO reflect on what they have learned in terms of how to move government officials and leaders of civil society to view children and youth as partners in creating livable cities. They describe their experience in participatory action research with children and youth, how they achieved successful outcomes, what they learned from mistakes, and strategies that they would apply if they were beginning a new initiative to ensure that city officials, community leaders and donors integrate young people into decision-making. The conclusion summarizes the group’s shared wisdom regarding how to make certain that adults in power not only listen to young people but also take action on at least some of their recommendations. These reflections should have relevance for any action research project with young people.

Keywords: participatory action research, children’s participation, youth participation, urban children, child friendly cities