New Danish partnership to strengthen youth leadership in shaping the cities of the future!

What if young people had the opportunity to lead change in their own communities?

That is the starting point for the Urban Youth Consortium, which is now entering into a Strategic Partnership Agreement with the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to strengthen young people’s opportunities to take leadership.

The Urban Youth Consortium is a new partnership between GAME and Dreamtown, built on what the two organisations see every day: When youth have the space to build communities and turn ideas into action, they do not only create better opportunities for themselves; they create stronger and more resilient local communities. The Urban Youth Consortium will receive DKK 18 million annually for five years from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Through the new Strategic Partnership Agreement with the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, GAME and Dreamtown now have the opportunity to bring together their experience and develop a joint effort for youth in some of the world’s fastest-growing urban areas across Africa, the Middle East and Ukraine.

“We are very grateful for the recognition from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which gives us the opportunity to join forces around an initiative where youth get stronger frameworks for creating change themselves in response to major global challenges,” says Marie Traasdahl Staal, Executive Director, International, GAME.

Young people are strong drivers of change

Cities around the world are growing rapidly. Yet far too many young people are growing up without access to safe communities, meaningful opportunities or a real voice in shaping the places where they live. At the same time, we know that youth are already among the strongest drivers of social change when they are given the opportunity to lead.

That is the opportunity GAME and Dreamtown, in partnership with the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, now aim to strengthen.

By combining GAME's experience in youth-led street sport and street culture with Dreamtown's expertise in participatory urban development and community organising, the partnership will create new pathways to wellbeing, education, employment, democratic participation and stronger communities.

"One of the most inspiring parts of our work is seeing what happens when youth have the opportunity to step into leadership. Through street sport and street culture, we engage youth who are too often overlooked or feel that there is no place for them. When they organise, build communities and turn their ideas into action, we see them creating positive change that reaches far beyond themselves. That is the power we believe in. And together with Dreamtown, we now have the opportunity to take that even further," says Marie Traasdahl Staal, Executive Director, International, GAME.

Communities, urban spaces and youth leadership

The partnership is built on complementary strengths. For more than 20 years, GAME has used street sport and street culture as a platform for youth leadership and strong communities. Dreamtown has developed approaches that enable young people to become co-creators of public spaces, local solutions and new opportunities in their own neighbourhoods. Together, we are bringing these strengths together in an approach where community building, youth leadership and the development of local meeting places go hand in hand.

"Dreamtown exists to create space for young people in cities. Everything we do starts with young people themselves. While we are motivated by the challenges facing underserved urban communities, we are guided by young people's dreams, creativity and ability to shape the future of their cities. That is why we are so excited to join forces with GAME. Together we share a belief that when young people lead, cities become stronger, more inclusive and more resilient. We look forward to advancing this agenda together with young people and our local partners across Africa, the Middle East and Ukraine,"says Rasmus Bering, Leadership and Strategy, Dreamtown.

The Urban Youth Consortium works alongside local organisations and youth groups across the Middle East, Africa and Ukraine. What unites our work is a shared belief that solutions are not designed in Denmark, but together with the youth, organisations and communities who are creating positive change every day. The partnership is built on local leadership, long-term relationships and the conviction that lasting solutions are created closest to the people they are meant to serve.

Link: www.game.ngo

Link: www.dreamtown.ngo

Contact:

Marie Traasdahl Staal, International direktør, GAME: +45 5366 2648, mts@game.ngo

Rasmus Bering, Leadership and Strategy, Dreamtown: +45 2560 1878, rasmus.bering@dreamtown.ngo