Child-friendly cities: a place for active citizenship in geographical and environmental education

Abstract

This research ¹ was designed to investigate innovative practices associated with child-friendly cities ² initiatives in the United Kingdom and Italy and how civics and citizenship initiatives are being applied into practical programmes of exploration and learning in geography and environmental education. The Child-Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) of the United Nations Children's Fund was launched in 1996 at the UN Conference on Human Settlement (Habitat II). At this conference it was declared that the well-being of children is the key indicator of a healthy habitat, a democratic society and good governance committed to children's rights. The CFCI was closely allied to the 1990 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, in which the right of children and young people to participate in the life and decision-making of their communities became a human right. Child-friendly cities initiatives have provided a framework and a myriad of programmes in which to create ways for children and young people to develop and exercise citizenship and participation skills. These projects assist young people to investigate issues relevant to their social and spatial worldviews, to interact with local government and community resources, to develop research skills and to promote the development of spatial competence and confidence.

Keywords:

• civics and citizenship
• child-friendly cities
• participation
• children and young people
• geographical and environmental education

Notes

1. This research was enabled through a study tour funded by an Energy Australia NSW Premier's Teacher's Scholarship in Environmental Education in 2008.

2. The word “child” in the term “child friendly city” refers to young persons aged 0–18 years.

3. Significantly, Australia is in the process of developing a national curriculum across key learning areas, and eventually all state and territory educational jurisdictions will be delivering the same curriculum in primary and secondary education. It has also been flagged that civics and citizenship skills, knowledge, understandings and capacities will be specified in certain subjects of relevance, including geography and history.

4. In 2004, the “Year of the Built Environment”, a two-day “Creating Child Friendly Cities” symposium was held in Brisbane, Australia. This symposium was jointly organised by Griffith University's Urban Research Programme and the Delfin Lend Lease Group.