The power of youth and volunteers in building resilient urban communities

Today, 20 years on since Habitat II, more than 17 million RCRC volunteers play an essential function in supporting their communities. Youth represent over 50 percent of the global volunteer base of the RCRC Movement and are therefore critical to fulfilling the Movement’s humanitarian mandate This role as first responders is particularly critical during humanitarian crises, and in complex urban areas. In April this year, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Ecuador. In response, hundreds of volunteers were mobilized to respond to humanitarian needs. In cities facing armed conflict, such as Aleppo or Sana’a, volunteers are again out assisting communities affected, often at great risk to their own safety and wellbeing. In informal settlements and slums young ‘volunteers in action’ lead powerful initiatives to improve their communities.

This side event will on one hand draw upon the experience of volunteers to highlight how they and their work contribute to support, care, help, heal and build social capital in order to find common solutions to humanitarian challenges. On the other hand, it will look beyond crises and disasters, to demonstrate the power and role of youth as real change-makers in their communities, constantly finding ways of interacting with their environment and creating more livable, thriving, resilient and inclusive cities.

The event will be held in Spanish.