Cities are not only buildings and streets; they represent a way of life, a shared memory, and a public space that is co-produced every day. For young people, that shared space is one of the most important grounds for identity-building and social participation.
The core criteria of a youth-friendly city include safe public transportation, free or low-cost cultural spaces, accessible youth centres, and mechanisms that bring young people to decision-making tables. The more inclusively local governments move on these fronts, the stronger young people's sense of belonging becomes.
Meaningful steps in this direction are being taken in many cities across Türkiye, most notably in Ankara. At GEGET, we follow this work closely and carry out field research to scale up youth councils and participatory budgeting practices.
Imagining a youth-friendly city is, in effect, designing the society of tomorrow. Hearing young people's voices today is the healthiest way of building tomorrow together.