Cities for Children
The European Network Cities for Children was initiated by the City of Stuttgart with the support of the Robert Bosch Stiftung in 2007. The Network offers European cities the possibility to exchange and to develop progressive concepts across national borders on how to promote the well-being of children, young persons and parents in the urban environment. It has been created in the view of the demographic situation in Europe which constitutes an enormous challenge for the long-term viability of our cities.
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions and The Committee of the Regions support the Network as patrons.
Over 75 cities from 32 European countries actively take part in the Network activities.
7th Annual Conference of the Network
The perspective of well-being of children and young people encompasses an understanding that recognises different psychological, physical and social dimensions of children´s lives. Healthy nutrition and physical activity are among the most important factors for a healthy development of children and adolescents. The number of overweight children is increasing dramatically. Too little physical activity and bad eating habits can lead to chronic diseases in adult life. Therefore, it is necessary for the cities to reach out to as many children and adolescents as possible and get them used to a healthy way of life as soon as possible.
How can we reach people of all educational and social levels? How can we make them aware of the importance of this topic? How can we get first the parents, second the nurseries, the teachers and other people who spend much time with children and adolescents involved?
These and other questions will be discussed at the annual conference with the experts Dr. Pekka Oja, Finland, Dr. med. Daniel Frey, Switzerland and practitioners.
Please find here the conference programme.
German version of the programme.
Registrationform
The english version of the Agenda 2012
Since 2011 the topic of the annual award has been followed by experts on a scientific basis and documented in a agenda with political recommendations for a course of action and suggestions for alle European cities. This agenda is presented to the EU Comission at the last annual conference.
Agenda 2012 "Child-friendly Neighbourhood Planning" created by Mr. Professor Angelus Eisinger, HCU Hamburg enriched by best practice examples from the applications for the 4th Award of Excellence "City for Children" 2012
Here you can find the german version of the Agenda 2012
6th Annual Conference Network Cities for Children
How do European municipalities create child-friendly neighbourhoods? How do city administrations develop and construct urban spaces and encourage interaction between all citizens, regardless of their age, social position and ethnicity? How do cities manage to meet the high standards of ecological sustainability when they develop strategies for infrastructure and housing of neighbourhoods?
On the 14th and 15th of May 2012, the members of the Network discussed these questions with urban planners Angelus Eisinger, Angela Uttke, practitioners, politicians, representatives from international institutions and representatives of the patron institutions of the Network, the Committee of the Regions, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.
The Documentation of the Conference 2012 is in progress.
Award 2011 - Documentation online
The Cities of Antwerp and Birmingham are the winning cities of the European Award of Excellence "City for Children" 2011 on media education. The project StampMedia of the city of Antwerp (Belgium) enables children and youngsters to publish media content in a real press agency. The project Keeping IT in the Family of the city of Birmingham (Great Britain) uses a sophisticated method to provide even deprived families with IT literacy: children teach their own families using electronic tools provided by the city administratition.
The documentation of the European Award of Excellence "City for Children" 2011 is available online.
5th Annual Conference on "Media Literacy"
On June 6th and 7th 2011, Europe's advocates of child-friendliness assembled in the City Hall of the State Capital City of Stuttgart. The European Network Cities for Children, its members, partners, patrons and those who are interested in the issue of child friendliness came together to exchange ideas on policies increasing the media competence of children and young people in European cities.
During the conference, Mayor Dr. Wolfang Schuster handed over the "Agenda for Media Literacy" to the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Rainer Wieland. The Agenda contains policy recommendations on how to increase media literacy of children and young people in European municipalities. The Agenda was authored by Professor David Buckingham, major international expert on media literacy, in cooperation with the member cities of the European Network Cities for Children. For insight into the Agenda, please follow this link.
Children filming Children 2011
In 2011, children from 17 Cities of the European Network Cities for Children produced one-minute video clips presenting their cities and their projects from their own perspective. The cities provided the children the opportunity to work with media experts, produce, film and edit the films themselves and thus gain media literacy. To view the clips, please follow this link.
