Youth Action for Livable Cities campaign expands across Vietnam, with FIA Foundation support

The Youth Action for Livable Cities campaign has launched to create meaningful opportunities for young people in Vietnam to participate in the development of sustainable mobility and livable cities, supported by the FIA Foundation.

The launch is part of the second phase of AIP Foundation's Empowering Youth for Livable Cities and AI for Global Goals programmes. First piloted through the AI&Me: Empowering Youth for Safer Roads programme in three cities in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, Pleiku, and Yen Bai the campaign has been expanded to Vinh Long and An Giang, to address the fact that despite being frequent road and public space users, Vietnamese urban youth are often excluded from the city design and traffic safety decisions that impact them most.

The event, held in the Vinh Long Province, by AIP Foundation and the Vinh Long Department of Education and Training, and with support from Fondation Botnar, Google.org, and FIA Foundation, in collaboration with iRAP and YOURS - Youth for Road Safety, reaffirmed a shared commitment to meaningful youth participation in urban development.

"Young people are at most risk on the road, but their experiences and voices are often overlooked in road designs and urban mobility options. This important project allows youth to be active participants in, and advocates for, equitable spaces and integrated transport, where all road users mix. Safer streets for young people mean safer streets for all," says Atsani Ariobowo, FIA Foundation Director of Children and Youth.

"At Fondation Botnar, we believe that young people must be active partners in shaping the cities they live in. When youth participation moves beyond voice to shared action, cities become healthier, more inclusive places that support young people's rights, wellbeing, and agency," said Susanna Hausmann, Cities Portfolio Lead at Fondation Botnar. Representatives from the Ministry of Construction, the Provincial Department of Education and Training, the Department of Construction, the Public Security, the Youth Union, and local authorities, international partner organisations, as well as students, teachers, parents from 15 schools, and the media.

"At Google.org, we support initiatives that are grounded in evidence and data to drive real-world impact," said Leslie Yeh, Director of Scientific Progress, Google.org. "Research consistently shows that young people are among the most vulnerable road users, yet their perspectives are often missing from mobility and urban design decisions. By equipping youth with data, digital tools, and opportunities to engage meaningfully, this program helps translate evidence into action, creating safer, more inclusive cities shaped by the people who experience them every day."

Students were active contributors throughout the event. Through activities such as building models of their "City of Dreams," facilitating interactive game booths, and participating in Youth Talk panel discussions, adolescents proposed practical solutions to improve safe mobility and urban environments in their communities. They shared their perspectives on the importance of including youth voices to improve youth well-being.

"This program made me think differently about my role in the city," shared Nguyen Mi Linh, a student from Luu Van Liet High School, age 16. "When young people are involved early, we grow up caring more about safety, our environment, and how our city develops in the future." (the student's name has been changed)

"During the event, youth leader groups from participating schools were introduced, with clearly defined roles and responsibilities to help turn ideas into action, supported by government institutions and civil society. When young people are equipped with the right skills, knowledge, and leadership opportunities, the nation benefits from a new generation of capable, engaged citizens ready to contribute to Vietnam's development," said Trinh Van Ngoan, Vinh Long Department of Education and Training.

The event marked the beginning of a long-term journey in which adolescents will continue to be supported with tools such as the Youth Engagement App (YEA) to reflect, propose co-created solutions, and actively contribute to building safer and more livable cities across the project's target provinces.

"We are deeply impressed by this innovative approach that places students at the Center of Urban Development. By combining education with real-world engagement, this initiative empowers young people with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to become active contributors to their communities," said Mirjam Sidik, Chief Executive Officer at AIP Foundation. "We look forward to continued collaboration with partners and to witnessing how our students, when trained and supported, grow into responsible, engaged citizens who help shape safer and more livable cities for the future."