Youth Perspectives on Sustainable Communities

What if cities could speak? What would they reveal about the people who inhabit them, their choices, priorities, and hopes for the future? During this IVECA Live Class, students from Korea and the United States explored that question together, transforming a virtual classroom into a shared space for reflection on what makes cities inclusive, resilient, and meaningful.

Focused on SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, the Live Class grounded global ideas in real community experiences. Students began by examining how sustainability often starts close to home, sharing local efforts such as recycling programs for young learners, river cleanups, food drives, and youth-led environmental initiatives. These examples illustrated how small, informed actions can gradually reshape the places people live in.

Education surfaced repeatedly as a key theme. Students reflected on the challenges facing education systems, both locally and globally, and connected access to quality learning with long-term urban sustainability. By linking issues in their own communities to realities in regions affected by conflict, poverty, and inequality, they emphasized that education lays the groundwork for stronger, more resilient cities. As one student shared during the session, “One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world,” a quote that framed education as a powerful starting point for opportunity, participation, and lasting social change.

Attention then shifted to community institutions that support everyday life. Students highlighted public libraries as inclusive spaces for learning and connection, and health centers as essential providers of care and community stability. Through examples such as tutoring programs, cultural events, health fairs, and outreach services, they demonstrated how cities thrive when people have access to shared, supportive spaces. The role of public spaces and resilience also featured prominently. Students discussed multifunctional community centers that host civic events, support local economies, and serve as resources during emergencies. These spaces illustrated how thoughtful planning allows cities to respond to both routine needs and unexpected challenges.

Throughout the session, students compared perspectives from their own urban environments, offering insights into city planning and inclusivity. These exchanges reinforced a shared understanding: while cities may differ in structure and scale, the challenges they face, and the aspirations people hold for them, are often remarkably similar, as one student reflected, “No matter where we live, we all want our cities to feel safe, welcoming, and fair.”

As the session drew to a close, a clear realization took shape: sustainable cities are shaped by engaged citizens. Through community action, education, and youth leadership, students recognized their role in influencing the future of the places they call home. The exchange underscored that progress toward global goals is already underway, led by young people who understand that meaningful change begins locally and grows through dialogue, collaboration, and shared responsibility. As one reflection captured during the session, “First we shape the cities—then they shape us.”

#IVECA #VirtualExchange #LiveClass #YouthVoices #YouthforChange #Sustainability #Korea #USA #GlobalCitizenship #GCED #EducationforAll #Inequalities

Beyond Borders: Reimagining Cities for a Sustainable Future

What does a sustainable city look like when viewed from different parts of the world? Through IVECA Live Classes, students from Cameroon, China, Korea, Mexico, and Singapore examined this question by connecting global challenges to the realities of their own communities. As they shared ideas on climate action, urban development, and social responsibility, it became clear that sustainability is shaped as much by local context as it is by global goals. These exchanges invited students to move beyond theory to imagine practical pathways toward cities that are more inclusive, resilient, and livable.

In Korea, students approached sustainability by asking how cities can continue to grow while leaving no one behind. Their discussions reflected the realities of rapidly developing and industrial areas, where housing costs, aging populations, youth out-migration, rising energy use, and regional gaps all shape daily life. Rather than imagining distant futures, students focused on how long-term planning, policy choices, and technology could directly improve the quality of life for the people who live in these cities now and in the years ahead.

Working through the same challenge, students in China and Cameroon grounded their ideas in the social and environmental issues most visible in their own communities. Chinese students connected urban sustainability to broader goals such as equity, food security, and climate responsibility, emphasizing the importance of balancing development with care for people and the environment. In Cameroon, students centered their proposals on everyday challenges, from flooding and waste management to access to clean water and reliable energy. Their solutions reflected what felt achievable locally, including sanitation improvements, recycling practices, flood-warning systems, and community-based energy approaches designed to reduce health risks with limited resources.

For students in Singapore and Mexico, sustainability became a question of creativity and collaboration. Students in an Indonesian school in Singapore explored how dense cities can work smarter through innovative design, efficient use of space, and new ways of producing food and energy. Mexican students, meanwhile, highlighted the power of community action, showing how awareness campaigns, school initiatives, and partnerships with local organizations can turn global sustainability goals into meaningful change at the local level.

Cultural performances brought the exchanges to life, giving students a chance to share who they are beyond their projects. Students from Korea showcased the focus, discipline, and cultural pride behind one of the country’s most iconic traditions, Taekwondo. From China, students shared a traditional instrumental performance, filling the virtual space with calm, expressive music. Students from Indonesia offered a dance performance rooted in national heritage, while students from Mexico introduced elements of their culture through food, art, and everyday traditions. Students from Cameroon added a live dance performance, where rhythm and movement expressed joy, community, and cultural identity. These moments reminded students that cultural exchange is not only about learning from one another, but about celebrating what each community brings to the global conversation.

As the Live Classes ended, students reflected on how the exchange shaped the way they see their cities, their futures, and their role as global citizens. A student from Korea shared how the session had been “truly meaningful because it helped us to think more critically about the future of our cities and the responsibilities we must have as global citizens.” From Mexico, a student reflected on how the discussions expanded their understanding of sustainability, explaining that it “is not just about being environmentally friendly, it includes a whole system, such as energy, transportation, to make human life cleaner and better as in green.” Together, these reflections highlight how engaging with diverse perspectives helped students move beyond isolated ideas and consider sustainability as a shared, multidimensional challenge.

#IVECA #VirtualExchange #LiveClass #YouthVoices #YouthforChange #Sustainability #India #HighSchool #GlobalCitizenship #GCED #EducationforAll #YouthManifesto

Youth Voices from India & Korea: Creating Sustainable Cities

Friday, December 12th, marked a meaningful milestone in the life-long journey towards global citizenship for two middle school classes separated by thousands of miles. Following a semester of in-class and virtual collaboration, the students from South Carolina, USA, and Uttar Pradesh, India, joined their IVECA Live Class to present their research on problems identified in their countries and initiatives the youth in their communities can take to improve people’s lives, imagining new ways we can build a more inclusive and sustainable future. 

Exploring the global-scale issues of access to quality education and climate change, Indian students reflected on how these challenges connect to their local communities. Focusing on education, students observed that some areas are often impacted by poverty, inadequate infrastructure, teacher shortages, and gender inequality. These factors, they noted, can lead to high dropout rates and limited future opportunities for many children. Through their research on educational inequality, students drew clear connections to conditions in their own communities, where access to quality schooling often determines young people’s preparedness for work and life. They highlighted government initiatives such as the National Education Policy 2020 and the integration of smart technology in classrooms and teacher training as key to social mobility and national progress. They emphasized that “investing immediately in these evidence-based solutions is essential to empower our citizens and secure a prosperous future for all.” 

Continuing the discussion of a brighter future, the second group of Indian students expressed their concern regarding climate change, a global challenge with visible local consequences. Sharing how human activities contribute to environmental degradation, the group reflected on severe air pollution in cities such as Delhi. “Many days the air quality index (AQI) shoots up to dangerous levels — making outdoor air unsafe to breathe,” they said, emphasizing how smog and poor air quality affect daily life, health, and well-being. The students emphasized the shared responsibility individuals and governments hold in protecting the environment and ensuring a healthier, more sustainable future.

With the same desire for sustainable, healthy living, students from the USA presented their observations and solutions to issues close to home. Reflecting on their own responsibilities and the efforts of their hometown of Greenville, South Carolina, the first group explored what makes cities sustainable, including green spaces, renewable energy, and responsible resource use. They also acknowledged the positive and negative impacts individuals can have, sharing, “As middle schoolers, we cannot do everything, but we can make a small difference!” Inspired by the recent government shutdown, the students described launching a fundraiser to support the local organization Harvest Hope, which helps sustain nutrition and food supplies for families in their community.

While the first group focused on environmental sustainability and community well-being, the second group of US students turned their attention to social sustainability by examining inequalities within their own community. Discussing racial discrimination, gender pay gaps, stereotypes, and LGBTQ+ inequality, students highlighted how these challenges affect people’s daily lives, mental health, and sense of belonging. Students shared wise advice, encouraging their classmates and partners to take everyday actions as middle school students: “Treat everyone with respect, even when they are different from you. Speak up when you hear someone using hurtful or unfair language. Listen when others share their perspectives or challenges.” The students beautifully demonstrated how youth voices and everyday actions can contribute to building a more equitable and compassionate community.

These presentations reflected the power of youth voices in addressing global challenges and the roles we can all play in local solutions. By connecting their research to their communities, the students from India and the United States demonstrated empathy, responsibility, and a shared commitment to building a more sustainable and inclusive future. Their collaboration is a meaningful reminder that global citizenship begins with understanding our shared humanity and the courage to take action at any age, proving that young learners can be thoughtful contributors to real-world change.

#IVECA #VirtualExchange #LiveClass #YouthVoices #YouthforChange #Sustainability #India #USA #MiddleSchool #GlobalCitizenship #GCED #EducationforAll #Inequalities #ClimateChange #YouthManifesto #CommunityWellbeing