“We Walk the Talk” – True to its core values, YOURS – Youth for Road Safety is an organisation for youth, by youth. As August’s celebrations of International Youth Day formally ended, we welcome September with some exciting news about how young leaders have been given seats at YOURS’ governing body, the Supervisory Board. 

At YOURS, we understand that the meaningful involvement of young people in all aspects brings multiple benefits to support the organisational growth and intended impact. From an operational perspective, youth participation contributes to better decisions and policies supporting YOURS to continue contributing to build the transportation system that youth deserve. For this reason, the Supervisory Board welcomes Simon Patrick Obi and Inés Yabar, two youth with an outstanding journey in leadership and advocacy. 

To learn more about these incredible leaders, YOURS Junior Communication Manager Maolin Macatangay talks with the two about their experiences in road safety and sustainable development. Read on to get to know them better! 

Mao: Hello Simon & Ines! It’s nice to finally get a chance to speak with you! Congratulations on joining the YOURS Supervisory Board. I’m so excited to see what you will bring to the table. Before we start with the questions, maybe you can share a little bit about yourself. 

Simon: Yes, Simon Patrick Obi is my name, and I am from Nigeria. I founded a nonprofit called GreenLight Initiative, for which I have promoted road safety for over a decade. I was at the 2nd World Youth Assembly for Road Safety, where we kicked off the idea of the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety. I joined its Youth Leadership Board, and ever since, we’ve been working with the YOURS team to push for road safety and sustainable mobility. 

Inés: I have never been a strong advocate for road safety; my advocacy has been mainly the reduction of inequalities and climate change sustainability. But I’ve always admired how the team finds the intersections and tries to bring other people in. That’s what I mostly enjoy – the team of YOURS is super friendly and is doing a lot for a very small team. So I’m excited to be joining in a more formal role and get to contribute from different angles and also get to learn a lot.

Mao: That is incredible, and I know you guys have done a lot and I feel very privileged to see those journeys unfold. So the first question is about a significant lesson you learned, or maybe an experience that shaped you to be the leader you are today, and how will this lesson be applied within your role as a Supervisory Board Member?

Simon: You see, as a Youth Leadership Board member for the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety and also being involved in several leadership associations, I have learned that to effectively engage with young people, it is essential to act and not just to act but also to communicate in ways that resonate with youth. I’ve also learned that young people are more engaged and interested when they are empowered, when they are mentored, when they are included in the decision-making process. By integrating these lessons I have learned over the years, I hope to contribute to the board’s effectiveness and support YOURS  in advancing its mission to improve safe and sustainable mobility for youth worldwide. 

Inés: I am currently in a situation where leadership is hard because I make hard decisions. I think that this is something I’ve learned from previous structures I’ve been in or even structures that I’m in now is that leadership isn’t just guiding people in the nice areas or getting people to do things or bringing people along or motivating them – it’s sometimes often learning to say no or learning when you have to let go of someone who’s not following the guidelines or the values that the team is in. I think it will be interesting to see how, in the Supervisory Board, we can align in more difficult moments. I want to see how we can ensure that the organisation still supports the young leaders and the work it’s doing while also standing firm in whatever values or structures are in place.

Mao: In today’s generation where, people are going towards more of the influencer route or going the route that will allow them to make a profit. Can you give us the story of why you chose an altruistic professional path? 

Simon: The answer reflects my lived experience. Actually, when I wanted to go into road safety, some folks told me that I was broke and I was going to an area that would make me even poorer. It was such a hard decision for me but I wanted to change because I saw a need and a problem in my society. In 2015, I came across a newspaper article saying that car crashes were the leading cause of violent deaths in Nigeria. However, the government and the public showed minimum interest in road safety. This is largely because the victims of road crashes were often from low-income backgrounds – evidence also shows that. Around that same time, I experienced the tragic loss of young friends dying in crashes, and it struck me that not too much is done to advocate for young people in my country. So, I was determined to make a difference.

Inés: When I was 15 years old, I went to volunteer in a Shanti town –  this was part of a school project – and I saw that I could make a change. We built a house for one family that transformed their lives because they lived in inhumane conditions. So, I could see the impact of small things I could make. The anecdote I thought about road safety specifically isn’t good; I was riding my bike in Peru, and I wasn’t wearing a helmet. I didn’t have lights, either. A reporter stopped me, and he was filming something about the new bike law. There was going to be a new law that made us wear helmets and have lights on our bikes. So he was interviewing people riding past and of course, I took the opportunity to talk to him. We spoke for half an hour, and I was feeling super great about myself, but then when I saw the report come out, the only part that they focused on was that I was saying, “Yes, it’s good – people should wear helmets,” and I wasn’t wearing one. And so, to me, that was a motivation to say, “Okay? I’m preaching about how you should wear a helmet, but I’m not wearing one because I didn’t feel like it was necessary”. That was broadcast nationally, and I just thought, “Oh my goodness” Since then, I have not gotten onto a bike without a helmet and lights.

Mao: So, what is your vision for YOURS and young people in road safety? And what do you think is our role in achieving 50by30?

Simon: So, my vision for the future of YOURS is simple; I want to see YOURS lead a transformative shift in global road safety by involving and engaging youth who have continued to bear the greatest brunt of road crashes. I also envision YOURS becoming a critical force in driving systemic change through creative and innovative strategy and robust advocacy for safe and sustainable mobility for young people. 

Inés: Maybe my vision is a bit more selfish in the sense that I want to see people like me who also want to advocate for road safety but those who hasn’t done it before. How can we bring those who don’t realise how affected young people are by road safety or don’t understand how they can take action? How do you reach the countries most affected by road crashes but also reach those countries that aren’t? How do we get these low-risk countries to advocate for other countries to step up their game? How do we make sure that those young people have the right tools and aren’t working in silos for governments, companies, or other institutions?  

Mao: Thank you very much, guys. Looking forward to working with you!

There will be additional updates on the YOURS Supervisory Board so stay tuned!

The Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety opened Applications to the 3rd World Youth Assembly for Road Safety happening at Marrakesh, Morocco on February 2025 last Thursday, August 15.

From February 15-16, 2025, over 200 young leaders from around the world will gather in Marrakech, Morocco, to shape the future of global road safety. The Assembly is an official side event to the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety.

The Assembly is a unique opportunity for youth to come together in an interactive, groundbreaking and creative event, gathering youth voices and innovative ideas to influence global strategies. It will feature an inspiring and youthful programme that includes energetic keynote speeches, interactive workshops, artistic interventions, street activations with civil society partners, and opportunities to learn from and engage with top decision-makers in the field.

Through the Assembly, it is expected that youth voices will be elevated on the global stage, that youth actions will be catalysed through training and access to resources, and that individuals and groups working for safer roads and more sustainable transportation will have enhanced collaborations.

Before applying, young leaders are expected to meet all three criteria; (1) must be a member of the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety, must have completed the Global Youth Consultation, and must have completed the first two modules at the YOURS Academy. Only then will they be considered for the delegation spots.

The deadline for applications is on the 15th of September 2024 at 23:59 CEST.

15 August 2024 – YOURS – Youth for Road Safety, through the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety International Youth Day celebration, launched a new Advocacy and Campaigns Toolkit titled “Changing Lanes: Youth Driving the Movement 4 Safer Mobility”.

During the ‘Road Safety and Digital Advocacy’ Webinar, YOURS Advocacy Director Stefania Minniti discussed the importance and use of the new toolkit and gave a sneak peek at what youth leaders can find in the document. 

Stefania highlighted that the toolkit was made possible through efforts of youth leaders from the Youth Coalition leadership structure, as they worked to co-design the toolkit. “At YOURS, we have been working for a meaningful youth engagement approach for more than ten years, so we just [compiled] all the great information we have so far [for this toolkit]”

The toolkit presents a road map for young leaders that prepares them for their respective advocacy journeys at both the local and national levels, hopefully leading to their delegation to the 3rd World Youth Assembly for Road Safety happening in Marrakech, Morocco in February 2025. 

Young leaders will have access to strategic tools designed to equip them with the skills and knowledge to drive impactful advocacy change, sustain effective advocacy efforts, and lead transformative movements in their communities and beyond. 

During her presentation, Stefania also spotlighted the case studies featured in the Toolkit, which elaborated on different youth advocacy efforts worldwide. “You can find different tactics on how to develop good engagement campaigns at the community level and even digital skill sets on how to prepare and set up bilateral meetings”. 

Stefania also pointed out that the Advocacy and Campaigns toolkit is for all young people, regardless of where they are in their advocacy journey. 

We encourage you to use these advocacy and campaign tools as a practical guide to enhance your already existing advocacy skills, demonstrate new knowledge, understand how to gain public support, and mobilise your community.

The journey matters as much as the end goal. Remember, it is always about the end goal: contributing to saving lives and creating more sustainable mobility systems. Let’s keep on #ClaimingOurSpace on the way to the 4th Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in 2025 and beyond!

YOURS – Youth for Road Safety Capacity Development Manager Laura Daniela Gomez wins a grant from the Knight Emerging City Champions – a fellowship and micro-grant programme for young civic innovations with “bold ideas for developing engaged, inclusive, and equitable communities.”

The Grant will elevate new voices in city building and support projects that strengthen communities. Projects could include efforts to revitalise downtown and neighborhoods, improve public spaces where people can connect with places they live, and create more economic opportunities that attract and retain residents through more inclusive pathways to jobs and more.

According to the Knight Emerging City Champions website, “Emerging City Champions use their energy, ingenuity, and collaborative partnerships to create real community change. From beehives to jukeboxes, mentorship programs to art projects, block parties to shared meals, ECC participants strengthen mobility, improve public spaces, and enhance civic engagement in their city.”

Daniela has a lot of experience leading projects focused on creating safer cities, especially for cyclists. As a member of the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety, she has won Local Actions grants from 2021 – 2022 while also winning the Impact Generator Challenge as a delegate of the 2nd World Youth Assembly for Road Safety.

Daniela’s Project “Macon for everyone, Macon para todos”, comprises two interconnected components:  enhancing accessibility for all with a particular focus on children and families and fostering greater engagement of the Hispanic community in downtown Macon.

The cornerstone of these components will be the execution of engagement and arts related activities that will build interest towards the key milestone of the project: a Hispanic heritage Gathering.

“Through my project, I seek to work together with different stakeholders to ensure Downtown Macon is accessible for all, enjoyable for all and more attractive for the Hispanic community.” – Laura Daniela Gomez

YOURS – Youth for Road Safety is thrilled to share an exciting year summarised in the 2023 Annual Report.

By skimming through it, you will be able to discover the big milestones and changeswe experienced last year. Some of them include;  

1. An executive leadership transition after 16 years
2. The reunion of the most active young leaders of the Youth Coalition so they continue learning and defining their advocacy plans
3. The completion of a Youth Engagement and Infrastructure Change project in Belize
4. The efforts in strengthening and solidifying partnerships with other expert organisations and governments to continue pushing for meaningful youth participation, and
5. The implementation of 14 youth-led grassroots projects in 14 cities focused on Community Mobilisation and Awareness, Advocacy, Peer-to-Peer Engagement, and Infrastructure Change.

Despite the diversity of actions, the common denominator is that once youth are given the opportunity and support to make a difference, they will go above and beyond in the hopes of building a better transportation system for them to inherit. This is one of the many things YOURS is supporting, encouraging, and working better towards. 

Originally published by Transport Policy Matters 

The world today is home to the largest generation of young people in history, 1.8 billion. As we transition to a safe, sustainable transport system, it’s critical to ensure that policymaking is ‘future-proofed’. Youth For Road Safety (YOURS) reports on initiatives to empower young leaders to advocate for solutions to the leading cause of death for young people aged 15-29: road crash injuries.

By Leonie Gruber, Sana’ Khasawneh and Julie Smirnova

Youth engagement is an end in itself. It’s also a means to build a better world.  A recent ITF Report, Youth on the Move, emphasises the importance of bringing young voices into the planning and implementation of transport initiatives. Road traffic injuries are the eighth leading cause of death globally, and the leading cause of death for young people aged 15–29. Current trends suggest that by 2030 road traffic deaths will become the fifth leading cause of death unless urgent action is taken. To save lives, it is vital that countries take faster and more concerted action.

Young people are smart and creative. Including our voices not only brings the opportunity for fresh perspectives, but as youth often have a better understanding of the digital landscape, we are able to bring valuable insights into the integration of smart and efficient solutions.

Stop preaching; start reaching

YOURS envisions a world where not a single person dies or gets seriously injured due to a road traffic crash. In direct response to the impassioned appeals of youth delegates at the 2nd World Youth Assembly 2020, YOURS spearheaded the formation of the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety. Today, the Youth Coalition brings together 2 200 members from 126 countries to fight for road safety and sustainable mobility. It offers youth aged 16 to 35 opportunities to learn from each other and lead local action programmes. In 2023, communities claimed their streets through programmes that addressed everything from tactical urbanism and road awareness to infrastructure interventions which resulted in the creation of school signs, enforcement of speed limits, and the maintenance of pedestrian crosswalks in ‘risky locations’.

YOURS also champions the adoption of the Policymakers Toolkit. The Toolkit equips governments to set up mechanisms to meaningfully engage youth in building a transport system that protects the people who use it. Through youth-led research, the Youth Coalition is building an evidence base to highlight that road safety is a cross-cutting issue with other topics such as health, inequality, climate action, sustainable cities and education.

The ITF 2024 Summit on “Greening Transport: Keeping Focus in Times of Crisis” is about moving forward, and that requires us to move in a different way. YOURS will take part in key plenary sessions to continue fostering meaningful youth participation. Besides that, we will showcase tools and artworks that reflect the demands and challenges faced by young people. We’ll show how these challenges can be overcome by including youth voices in policy-making processes. Political leaders must continue to understand youth needs, and youth choices in travel behaviour to plan inclusively.