Peer-reviewed article
Child-friendly cities: the essence of the concept and students’ participation in their planning (based on the example of Lviv Physics and Mathematics Lyceum)
Уляна Банах, Roman ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view ·Key points
Limitations
Abstract
This article discusses the concept of child-friendly cities and Ukraine’s part in the Child-Friendly Cities Initiative. It was launched by UNICEF in 1996 and joined by Ukraine in March 2018. About 170 Ukrainian cities applied to join the initiative; 35 were selected, and three — Bakhmut, Vinnytsia, and Lviv — received the UNICEF International Child and Youth Friendly Community Honorary Status in December 2021. Unfortunately, the implementation of the plans for the initiative approved by the governments of the three cities was interrupted by armed Russian aggression against Ukraine. One of the signs of a child-friendly city is the involvement of children in the urban planning process, i.e., child participation. An example of ensuring it can be the planning of schools in new neighborhoods and the inclusion of students in this process, which is relevant for Lviv, which is experiencing urban growth and residential construction, as well as for the cities damaged due to Russia’s full-scale invasion. Forty students from Lviv Physics and Mathematics Lyceum volunteered to complete a survey on the most general issues of creating child-friendly spaces in the city and near schools. The respondents were asked to evaluate the qualities of their school grounds and the nearby area and state their preferences. Our findings indicate similarities between the common concerns of adult and young Lviv citizens, though a few issues more typical for children are also highlighted. The students’ responses are also influenced by the particular characteristics of the school and the neighborhood it is located in. This article recommends conducting similar research in different schools to gather a wide range of opinions. The results can be useful to the school administration and the city authorities and lead to positive outcomes in creating child-friendly urban environments.