Young Lives 7 Cities

What’s on offer?

Cities are at the fore of sustainability challenges of the twenty-first century, and many are predominantly youthful spaces. Understanding young people’s experiences in urban environments is therefore important as we strive to achieve both the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. The international CYCLES project seeks to understand the lifestyles and aspirations of young urban residents and to share their ideas for living well within environmental limits. CYCLES research is taking place in London, UK; Christchurch, New Zealand; Dhaka, Bangladesh; New Delhi, India; Sao Paulo , Brazil; Makhanda, South Africa and Yokohama Japan.

The academic research has been accompanied by short films made with young people in some of the cities, and this event provides an opportunity to see a preview of two of them and to discuss the broader project.

What’s it about?

Hosted by the University of Surrey (UK) in partnership with Canterbury University (New Zealand) as part of the 2021 ESRC Festival of Social Science—this event will offer audiences an opportunity to watch the preview of two new short films which gives insights into young people’s lives in Christchurch, New Zealand and Makhanda, South Africa and to talk to the film director and research project leads.

The films have been made by award winning filmmaker Amanda Blue to accompany the international CYCLES project which is running in the Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP). The project is working with young people aged 12-24 across seven international cities, discovering the issues that are important in their ability to live well and sustainably in urban environments. Amanda’s films are an accessible and compelling introduction to some of the concerns and priorities for young people in Christchurch and Makhanda and provide an inspiring basis for a wider discussion with the audience about what’s needed to enable young people to live well within urban environments.

Who’s leading the event?

Prof Kate Burningham, University of Surrey 

Prof Bronwyn Hayward, Canterbury Christchurch University

Open to

General public, particularly young people aged 12-24 years who are living in urban cities.

Of particular interest to

Anyone who has an interest in sustainable living and wellbeing in urban environments.