Streets for Kids:
Designing cities for safer childhoods
The Streets for Kids programme continued to support initiatives which are transforming youth safety and wellbeing in cities worldwide. Incorporating insights from over 100 experts in over 45 cities, two new publications were launched, supplementing the award-winning “Designing Streets for Kids” guide, which was recently translated into its ninth language. Combined, the guides offer inspiring global case studies and practical tools to support long-term and meaningful change in kids’ ability to safely move, play, and enjoy the streets in their cities.
Since its launch, the programme has trained over 400 practitioners through a self-paced online course and introduced the Streets for Kids Leadership Accelerator (2022–2024), an eight-month professional development initiative for 60 changemakers from 20 global cities. In 10 cities, hands-on projects led to real-world improvements, including a 36% reduction in traffic speeds in Cuenca, Ecuador, reclaiming thousands of square meters of pedestrian space, and engaging nearly 5,000 community members, 4,000 of whom were children.
Pictures by: GDCI, and Wagner Barbosa/CTTU/Municipality of Recife
