Our City 2030 is a three-year project jointly implemented by WWF and Plan International Sweden in four countries namely Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, and the Philippines from 2018 to 2021. An initiative that focuses on strengthening youth capacity to engage on issues of climate change, education for sustainable development (ESD), and disaster risk management in specific cities of the participating countries. It guides students towards a deeper understanding of future challenges in urban areas and strengthens preparedness and capacity at the local level.
In the Philippines, the project partnered with the local government of Quezon City, a highly-urbanized city and also the most populated area in the country, through its Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department (EPWMD) and the Schools Division Office of Quezon City (QC-SDO) by conducting activities in three selected public high schools: Balingasa High School, Judge Feliciano Belmonte Sr. High School, and Justice Cecilia Munoz Palma High School. To increase inclusivity among youth and educator participants, the project also involved other curricula like the Alternative Learning System (ALS) representing the informal education and the Special Education (SPED) program designed for children with special needs. Despite the pandemic, the project carried on with its implementation by (1) transitioning to online/virtual mode of activities, (2) relating the effects of COVID-19 to the project’s related key topics, and (3) continuing to provide relevant information and assistance to partners.
Objectives:
The Our City 2030: Youth Visions and Solutions has the ultimate goal of delivering the Sustainable Development Goals particularly on climate change, reducing inequalities and ensuring peace, justice and strong institutions while supporting the integration of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) among partner schools and educators. The project delivered the following three outcomes that are anchored on capacity strengthening, engagement and commitment of city authority towards developing a 1.5C trajectory:
1) CAPACITY: Youths in participating schools have capacity to be able to contribute to climate smart and resilient cities
Results: By working with the different participants from Quezon City, the project was able to engage more than 900 youths, 80 parents and at least 100 city representatives who had increased understanding and capacity on relevant ESD skills including climate change, disaster risk resilience, and the 1.5C global warming. Consequently, around 365 educators were trained under the project on how to integrate the ESD concept into their lesson plans of other school subjects other than Science, reaching at least 3,624 students in the process.
2) MEETING PLACE: Youth engagement in selected city for policy dialogue and sessions are convened in youth-friendly fora
Results: Youth officials and members from city local youth offices and community-based youth associations were also tapped. Youth-friendly avenues were also provided for the young people to present their vision supported by 6 thematic action plans/roadmaps and 13 solutions that they have developed for Quezon City by the year 2030. A total of three youth forums were held to convene and discuss these youth’s aspirations with city officials and other stakeholders including in-city businesses, civil society organizations and media. In particular, one of these youth forums was voluntarily funded by the partner city government as the city recognized the value of the youth and education sector on the aspect of environment and sustainability, through the Our City 2030 project.
3) ACCOUNTABILITY & FEEDBACK: Mechanisms, that include youths’ input, are in place for cities to develop climate smart roadmaps
Results: To ensure that the youth’s inputs will be incorporated into the city’s plans and programs even beyond project implementation, youth leaders through the Local Youth Development Council (LYDC) and the community-based Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) were also involved by aligning the youth’s vision and action plans to their own local development plans. More importantly, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Quezon City Government and QC-SDO is currently awaiting approval and signature to formally signify the city’s sustained support and ways for possible collaborations on youth engagement.
Quezon City Teachers trained on Climate Change and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
Youths Present Vision, Solutions for Sustainable Quezon City by 2030
Youth Redesigns a Resilient and Sustainable Future for their City
WWF-Philippines Leads Webinar to Introduce Quezon City High School Students to ESD Framework
Our City 2030 conducts first teachers’ webinar on ESD and its relationship to COVID19
Solution Revolution Forum: Quezon City Youth Connect with Local Government
Solution Workshops Conducted with Quezon City Youth for Our City 2030
