UN-HABITAT: World Urban Youth Assembly International Essay Competition

UN-HABITAT, the United Nations agency for human settlements, invites youth from around the globe to participate in the World Urban Youth Assembly International Essay Competition to generate ideas and solutions to address youth challenges in cities. The theme for this year’s UN-HABITAT World Urban Forum, which is being held in Rio de Janeiro from March 22 to 26 2010, "Right to the City: Bridging the Urban Divide", seeks to engage practitioners and policymakers on the subject of the urban utopia and to identify the best practices and actions in cities, creating a better world where everyone can live with dignity, respect, and citizenship.

UN-HABITAT is seeking young people living in urban areas to play a significant role in addressing the challenges facing decision- and policy-makers planning for and managing cities. Young people from around the world participating in the World Urban Youth Assembly on March 19 - 20 2010 will have an opportunity to deliberate and make recommendations to better inform the urban agenda.

Applicants are invited to draw on personal experiences and practical solutions, using their own cities as an example, in writing an essay that addresses the following:

1. Identify and briefly present the challenges young people face in cities and provide solutions.
   
2. From a youth perspective, identify the underlying issues that prevent the full inclusion of youth in shaping the urban development agenda.
   
3. In your view, what can young people, working with their peers, community, local authorities and municipalities do to increase youth participation in urban planning and managing cities?

The following awards will be given respectively:

• 1st Prize: Round-trip economy ticket to attend the World Urban Youth Forum (March 19 and 20 2010) and World Urban Forum (March 22 to 26 2010) in Brazil and one Netbook
  
• 2nd Prize: One High Density Camera
  
• 3rd Prize: One Digital Camera