UNICEF held the annual networking event “Kinder bewegen - Mobilität und Freizeit in der Gemeinde” (Children on the Move – Mobility and Leisure in the Community) on September 21, 2023 at the Eventfabrik in Bern. 19 communities, cities and organizations presented their offerings at an interactive marketplace.
In Switzerland and Liechtenstein, when a child leaves their house or apartment, they almost always find themselves on a street. Traffic has enormous impacts on the development of children and young people. In many places, low livability and high safety risks lead to children and young people moving about less in public spaces. Noise and exhaust fumes put additional strains on their health. This affects both cities and communities because many small towns in Switzerland and Liechtenstein are characterized by busy thoroughfares. A child-friendly design of public spaces can promote the physical and psychological health and well-being of children and young people and have a considerable effect on their development.
The afternoon’s activities began with Sabina Ruff, owner of “Laboratorium für Zukunftsgestaltung” (Laboratory for Shaping the Future). Through a practical example, Ms. Ruff showed how a participative process with children, young people and adults can be used to create an intergenerational recreational area and shared space. The process was not without a few critical moments, which were presented for the benefit of the event participants’ own future projects. It is key that communication be transparent and tailored to the target group for the duration of the project and that changes in implementation be communicated clearly. Sabina Ruff emphasized that children must be integrated in the designing of spaces intended for them, and that doing so would contribute to a more complete development and better prepare children for responsibility in life.
Children and young people have the right to be involved in all matters that concern them. For implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, it is essential to involve children and young people in the planning, design and use of shared spaces as this directly affects their lives. In her presentation on the planning and design of child-friendly shared spaces, Nadine Junghanns, UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein Specialist Child-friendly Living Spaces emphasized that “children and young people must play a key role as agents of change in how we design public spaces.” Moreover, key players in public policy, administration, science and business must get on the same page and fulfill the obligation to safeguard the rights of all children to protection, encouragement and participation, including in the designing of these spaces. She presented the main findings from a UNICEF publication on the guidelines for designing child-friendly shared spaces that will be published in 2024.
Overview of talks, workshops and market stands
19 communities, cities and organizations presented their offerings at an interactive marketplace. The event also featured presentations and workshops addressing how the rights to safety, health, leisure and participation found in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child can also be implemented in public spaces.
Sabina Ruff, «Laboratorium für Zukunftsgestaltung» (Laboratory for shaping the future)
Sabina Ruff is a process consultant, organizational development expert and lecturer. Her work involves construction and planning processes from a social sciences perspective and advocacy for the child-friendly development of sites, communities and quarters. In her keynote presentation, she discussed examples of successful participation of target groups in planning and building processes.
Nadine Junghanns, Specialist Child Friendly Living Spaces, UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein
In her presentation, Nadine Junghanns highlighted the demands of child-friendly public spaces and roads, with important recommendations for key players. She also announced the release of a focus publication scheduled for 2024.
- Annik Artho, landscape architect / project manager at SpielRaum, and Kerstin de Bruin, sociocultural animator / project manager at SpielRaum
Annik Artho and Kerstin de Bruin led a workshop involving participative evaluation of a neighborhood street in the town of Zofingen. Using this practical example, they showed how public spaces can be created for the benefit of all through the meaningful involvement of children and young people in the planning processes.
- Dr. Nicole Fretz, Project Manager for Urban Development, Department of Presidential Affairs of the Canton of Basel-Stadt
In her presentation, Dr. Fretz discussed improving traffic safety in areas around schools and preschools in the Canton of Basel-Stadt. She revealed how the effective involvement of children, parents and adults can help to systematically improve traffic safety on roads used to reach schools and preschools.
- David Chevrolet, Florent Monney and Lara Cataldi, Agency for Schools and Institutions for Children, City of Geneva
The three representatives from the city of Geneva gave a talk on “The child’s place in the city – from playgrounds to school routes: practical examples of participative projects in the city of Geneva.” The city of Geneva has been a “Child Friendly City” since 2018.
The following organizations and communities also made presentations over the interactive marketplace:
- a:primo – Simona Bill
a:primo is an association that advocates for the early promotion and equality of opportunities for children across Switzerland. It offers preventive support services to communities and schools throughout Switzerland.
- okaj zürich – Nicola Gross
okaj zürich is the cantonal umbrella organization for public, associational and faith-based groups working with children and young people. It is involved in the promotion of children and young people in the Canton of Zurich. At their market stand, they presented their project “Nimm Platz”.
- Ville en tête – Katell Mallédan
Ville en tête organizes public tours with the goal of raising young people’s awareness of the challenges of building culture and creating a constructive dialog between experts and user groups.
- Kinderregion – Alexandra Strobel
Kinderregion is an organization that is committed to providing parents, grandparents and godparents with inspiration for planning sustainable excursions in the Zurich region.
- Fachstelle SpielRaum – Valentina Pagani
Fachstelle SpielRaum plans public spaces that are natural, child friendly and multi-generational. It focuses on the meaningful participation of children and young people in the various process steps.
- Verkehrsplanung Stadt Bern – Petra Stocker and Dominik Guggisberg
At its market stand, the municipal authority showcased two projects: “Participation in the bicycle initiative with children and young people” and “Participation of children in the planning of shared spaces”.
- Swiss Council for Accident Prevention (BFU) – Ms. Bersier and Ms. Vuitel
At the networking event, BFU presented their publications and programs on the subject of children in road traffic and children on the move.
- RADIX – Nadine Leimgruber
RADIX is a Swiss health foundation that promotes the shaping of healthy conditions for living, working and leisure. At the networking event, she presented their project for “Natural playgrounds and schoolyards”.
- Pro Velo Switzerland – Yvonne Müller
Pro Velo Switzerland presented the projects “Schule+Velo” and “Bike2school” at the marketplace.
- Hopp-la – Janina Drews
The Hopp-la Foundation presented its programs advocating physical mobility for children and young people.
- FHNW – Martina Gerngross
The University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland announced their new guidelines for “Developing communal policies involving children and young people”.
- DOJ, Dachverband offene Kinder- und Jugendarbeit Schweiz – Tobias Bauer
The market stand was the site of the special introduction of the “Participlace” project.
- Child Friendly Community of Grenchen – Mike Brotschi
Grenchen has been a UNICEF “Child Friendly Community” since 2018. At its market stand, the community focused on the topics of traffic safety and getting to school safely with the assistance of a traffic expert from the Solothurn cantonal police.
- Child Friendly City of Thun – Anna-Lena Eggli
Thun has been a UNICEF “Child Friendly City” since 2018. At its market stand, the city presented information on its experiences in participative redesign of the Robinson playground.
- City of Zurich – Christine Bai
The city’s engineering office oversees the planning, design and maintenance of public spaces and sustainable mobility and transport planning. At its market stand, Christine Bai presented the “Metamorphosis” project.
- Marie Meierhofer Institute for the Child (MMI) – Liridona Laube and Arna Villiger
MMI is an institute for early childhood that focuses on the preconditions for successful development as well as preventing problematic developmental pathways. At the networking event, it presented the “Frühe Kindheit bewegt” assistance program and the MegaMarie plus program.
- La Lézarde – Camille Bernier
La Lézarde is a new organization that oversees and manages the participation of children and young people in the construction and redesigning of playgrounds and play areas in Western Switzerland.
- VCS, Verkehrs-Club der Schweiz – Corine Kibora
The Swiss automobile club VCS presented its offerings on the topic of children and transport at the networking event. Its special focus was on the project “Pedibus”.
- UNICEF “Child Friendly Communities” initiative
Visitors to the UNICEF market stand received an in-depth look into the UNICEF initiative “Child Friendly Communities” and the field of “Child-friendly living spaces.”
Nadine Junghanns, Specialist Child Friendly Living Spaces, UNICEF Switzerland and Liechtenstein: [email protected]