Last March 2021, YOURS – Youth for Road Safety officially welcomed Michelin Corporate Foundation as a Programme Partner to the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety. The partnership between the Coalition and Michelin Corporate Foundation will invest and support the Coalition’s work to empower youth across the globe. In their annual report, Michelin reiterated the partnership and supported the youth and road safety movement. Our relationship with Michelin goes back all the way to 2009 where Michelin became the Founding Member of the organization. We reproduced the article here:

Road crashes are the leading killer of young adults aged between 15 and 29. Almost 350,000 die each year and 80% of them are males.

To help in fighting this scourge the NGO YOURS (Youth for Road Safety) was set up in 2007. It has grown steadily and in 2010 became an official member of UNRSC (United Nations Road Safety Collaboration), the road safety body attached to the UN. The aim of YOURS is to improve road safety by encouraging thousands of young people known as ‘ambassadors’ and ‘champions’ to take part in preventive actions, to spread information, and mobilize their peers.

Despite increased awareness, the death rate in 2019 remained high. The reasons for this are perfectly clear: not wearing a helmet or seat belt, speed, alcohol, and lots of attention. In this situation, it is more than ever essential to inform young people and, what is more important, involve them in designing solutions.

This priority was recalled at the 2nd World Youth Conference held in Sweden on February 18th, 2020. Jointly organized by YOURS and the World Health Organization, it was a prelude to the third world ministerial conference on road safety arranged by the United Nations. The assembly called for increased efforts to meet new road safety targets between now and 2030 and speed up the transition to safer, cheaper, easier to use, and more sustainable modes of transport.

In July 2020, YOURS launched the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety, a platform bringing together individual members and organizations with the aim of creating momentum to make roads safer. Its objective is to offer resources, skills, partnerships, and opportunities to spread ideas and maximize their impact. Since its creation, 300 members from 76 countries have joined the Coalition.

The Global Youth Statement for Road Safety lists down the demands and commitments of young people over the world to achieve the road safety targets set in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs help define the Coalition’s priorities and guides them on implementing measures that uphold road safety and sustainable transport. These efforts help the global community move closer to the target of halving the number of road-related deaths and injuries by 2030.

As part of the strategies to meet the road safety targets in the global agenda, the Coalition is amplifying its efforts to make road safety more visible by assigning SDG Youth Champions to strengthen the call for safer roads and sustainable mobility according to the goals and targets listed in the Global Youth Statement. 

The SDG Youth Champions will take the lead in enhancing the connection between road safety and the other SDGs through local and global advocacy work. 

Meet our SDG Youth Champions! 

OMNIA EL OMRANI

Omnia represents SDG 3: Health. Under this SDG, she will lead the push to halve road-related deaths and injuries by the year 2030. By meeting the targets under SDG 3, road-related deaths will be avoided and the health system would not be over-burdened by preventable deaths and injuries. 

Omnia is a medical doctor from the IFMSA.

ALEX AYUB

Alex represents SDG 4: Education. He will lead efforts to advocate and implement efforts and campaigns for safer school zones and three-star roads. Safer school zones and three-star roads help ensure safer journeys for students all over the world.

Alex works with the Kenya Red Cross as the National Youth Officer.

Thiago Gruner

Thiago represents SDG 4: Education. He will lead the efforts and champion initiatives to promote peer education and discuss the importance of observing road safety rules.

Thiago is a volunteer of the Vida Urgente program and serves as the International Relations and Youth representative. He is also a filmmaker.

OLIVIA NALWADDA

Olivia represents SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities. She will lead efforts to petition for more meaningful youth representation in road safety decision-making. Olivia will also amplify the call for safe and sustainable transport for vulnerable road users.

Olivia is the founder of UZIMA ARI Uganda.

RITU JAIN

Ritu represents SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities. She will lead the fight for womenʼs rights to move safely and free of prejudices. Ritu will advocate and help raise awareness on the importance of safe and sustainable transport, especially for women, children, and other vulnerable road users. 

Ritu works with Restless Development as its accountability advocate.

ALISON COLLARD DE BEAUFORT

Alison represents SDG 11: Sustainable Cities. She will lead and support the call to put vulnerable road users first in city design. Creating sustainable cities means communities that are green, healthy, and liveable.

Alison is the founder and executive director of the Vision Zero Youth Council (VZYC).

ESTEBAN PAREDES

Esteban represents SDG 11: Sustainable Cities. He will lead and support efforts to press decision-makers to invest in safer and sustainable infrastructure and vehicles. A good transport system means healthier and more liveable communities.

Esteban is the Global Network Coordinator of Fundación Cavat.

ESTIARA ELLIZAR

Estiara represents SDG 11: Sustainable Cities. She will lead and support the call to put vulnerable road users first in city design. Creating sustainable cities means communities that are green, healthy, and liveable.

Estiara is an iRAP Accredited Suppliers on coding and analysis.

SOUMITA CHAKRABORTY

Soumita represents SDG 13: Climate Action. She will lead and support efforts for safe and sustainable transport that is clean and green as a way to combat the climate crisis. This supports young people’s demand to “let us breathe!”

Soumita works on climate change adaptation, urban planning, disaster management, and public health.

OMNIA EL OMRANI

Omnia represents SDG 13: Climate Action. She will lead and support efforts for safe and sustainable transport that is clean and green as a way to combat the climate crisis. This supports young people’s demand to “let us breathe!”

Omnia is a medical doctor from the IFMSA and a strong advocate for climate action and public health.

DOWNLOAD THE GLOBAL YOUTH STATEMENT FOR ROAD SAFETY

Last week, April 7 and 8, the United Nations launched the first virtual ECOSOC Youth Forum. The Forum created a platform for candid dialogue between Member States and young leaders from around the world. Topics during the Forum include potential solutions to address challenges that affect the well-being of young people around the world. This year’s theme was on sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

ECOSOC Pre-Event
Before the Forum, a side event on Uniting Adolescents during COVID-19 and beyond was held.

The session highlighted the importance of taking immediate to improve adolescent health through a virtual dialogue between young people and global ministers where both groups discussed long-term priority solutions outlined in the worldwide Call to Action on Adolescent Wellbeing in the context of COVID-19 recovery.

The session was hosted by Mercy Juma, broadcast journalist at BBC Africa. She was joined by leaders like Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Alejandra Acuña, President of the Republic of Costa Rica, Jayathma Wickramanayake, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, and more.

Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety Youth Advisory Board member, Omnia el Omrani, talked about the Coalition and how it supports young people and amplifies their voices and efforts to make great and positive impacts in their communities, particularly when it comes to addressing the biggest killer of youth worldwide; road crashes.

“Being part of the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety who mobilized over 400 young leaders from over 80 countries, I see how youth play a critical part in addressing the number one cause of death in children and adolescents – road crashes. Now, we need policymakers to engage us and shape a safe post-pandemic world that protects our health and well-being” – Omnia el Omrani, Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety.

ECOSOC Youth Forum
This year’s ECOSOC Youth Forum was guided by the theme “Sustainable and resilient recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, that promotes the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development: Building an inclusive and effective path for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda in the context of the decade of action and delivery of sustainable development.”

Opening remarks were given by His Excellency, Mr. Munir Akram, President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, His Excellency, Mr. Volcan Bozkir, President of the 75^th Session of the General Assembly, Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake, UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, and Ms. Anika Jenne Dorothy, Executive Director of the Green Congress of Kenya.

During the opening session, Global ministers acknowledged the fact that young people hold the key to achieving the targets in the 2030 Agenda. 

“Your insights are essential to the work of the United Nation. We need to hear from you. Never doubt your power. Together, you are 1.8 billion strong” – Volkan Bozkır, President of General Assembly. 

The Coalition had a total of sixteen delegates from its members all over the world. They include Alison Collard de Beaufort from the USA, Alex Ayub from Kenya Maolin Macatangay from the Philippines, Kenny Mulinde from Uganda, Olivia Nalwadda from Uganda, Matías Ivan Shulz from Argentina, Ritu Jain from India, Shashank Misra from India, Nkumbuye Amie from Rwanda, Omnia el Omrani from Egypt, Tendekayi Marapara from Zimbabwe, Sana’a Khasawneh from Jordan, Thiago Gruner from Brazil, Soumita Chakraborty from India, Mohamed Eissa from Egypt, and Estiara Ellizar from Indonesia.

During the Forum, the Coalition’s delegates helped raise awareness on road safety and sustainable mobility by pushing for more commitment to put it into the 2030 Agenda. 

WATCH SESSIONS FROM THE ECOSOC YOUTH FORUM

The Master Trainers
Five global master trainers were recruited by YOURS in 2019. These master trainers were trained on the principles of the Star Rating for Schools (SR4S) methodology pioneered by iRAP. As a result of the program, the master trainers would be capable and qualified to conduct star ratings for schools and universities and train other young people on the SR4S methodology.

Master trainers Daniel Cano from Colombia, Minh Vo from Vietnam, Alex Ayub from Kenya, and Shantel Jacobs from Belize are leading the Youth Stars Programme – a four-week session for members of the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety that trains them to understand, use, and apply the SR4S methodology and its tools to rate school zones in their areas and communities.

“Vietnamese youth leaders have determined that “enough is enough” as they fight against the very issue that impacts them most. Three youth leaders at AIP Foundation are being internationally recognized for their contributions to road safety.” AIP Foundation published a story that highlights youth involvement in efforts to reduce road-related deaths and injuries through the Youth Stars Programme. We reproduced the article here.

Star Rating for Schools Master Trainer

Ms. Minh Vo, Monitoring & Evaluation Jr. Coordinator at AIP Foundation, becomes Star Rating for Schools (SR4S) Master Trainer, a Youth Star Program, supported by FedEx and managed by iRAP and YOURS. SR4S is a systematic evidence-based approach developed by iRAP to measure, monitor, and communicate the risk on roads around schools. It supports quick interventions that save lives and prevent serious injuries from day one. SR4S allows easy assessment of each road feature that affects pedestrian safety on a journey to school and uses evidence-based research of their impact on safety. A “star rating” can be calculated at spot locations, where 1-star is the least safe and 5-star is the safest.

As a Master Trainer, she is responsible for delivering SR4S training to new members and coalition partners to improve road safety around school zones. Master Trainers are equipped with knowledge about SR4S methodology, assessment planning, SR4S tools, road attribute coding, and post-training support.

Currently, Ms. Minh Vo, along with 3 other Master Trainers are conducting the first-ever SR4S training for members of the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety.

iRAP Accreditation
Ms. Quyen Bui and Ms. My Huynh, Program Assistants at AIP Foundation completed a course organized by iRAP, in cooperation with the University of Transport and Communication—iRAP’s lead partner in Vietnam, dedicated to road safety engineers, experts, and professionals working in the field.

“The Star Rating Demonstrator is such a great tool to learn and gives me a greater understanding of what needs to be prioritized when upgrading road infrastructure. This allows me to assess risks better, which ultimately helps me serve my community.” Ms. My Huynh expressed.

The course focuses on capacity-building leaders to take on technical road analysis including:

• Star Rating Demonstrator – a tool for simulating star ratings for 100m roads.
• Star Rating for Design – an injury and fatality prevention app that empowers engineer designers to assess the safety or road design and improve its star rating before beginning road construction.
• Fatal and Serious Injuries Estimation and Safer Road Investment Plan – tools that help estimate road casualties and simulate effective intervention solutions for the route, thereby improving the safety star rating of those roads.

Once completing the course, consultants are part of an exclusive highly trained group that is able to perform iRAP-specific activities at an international standard.

All three of AIP Foundation’s road safety youth leaders have been participating in ongoing global workshops, training, and campaigns to better serve underprivileged communities in Vietnam.

Learn more about AIP Foundation

On Monday, March 29, YOURS – Youth for Road with the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety and iRAP – International Road Assessment Programme launched the third session of the Youth Stars Programme. The session focused on data gathering methods. Participants were also trained about how to input the data in the Star Rating for Schools (SR4S) applications.

The first two sessions
The first two sessions of the Youth Stars Programme led by Master Trainers Daniel Cano from Colombia, Minh Vo from Vietnam, Alex Ayub from Kenya, and Shantel Jacobs from Belize.

The first session was about the Youth Stars Programme as part of a larger project that would help build the foundation of other road infrastructure projects, plan road infrastructure assessments, conduct school safety assessments, and communicate results and scale up positive outcomes.

The second session focused on the project structure behind SR4S. Alex, Shantel, and iRAP Global Project Coordinator, Rafaela Machado, gave participants some tips on how to ensure the success, continuity, and ease of starting a rating project through the SR4S methodology and the star rating tool.

Session 3: Data Gathering
The third session was led by Master Trainers Daniel Cano and Shantel Jacobs. During the session, Shantel went over the steps on how to set up a star rating account. The participants were guided on how to establish their own projects as well as how to input the data on the roads and zones they assess. Through the iRAP star rating website and application, participants and/or users will be able to update projects get feedback from assessors.

Following the guide on the account setup, Daniel discussed how to code different elements of the streets and school zones. For instance, coding options of roadside developments would include coding options like undeveloped, residential, commercial, industrial, farming, and school.

The Master Trainers also explored ways on how to rate and record data through the SR4S tool; you can record data through the web app, through the android app, and through manual record sheets. Because of this, participants can assess roads and zones depending on their resources and preference.

iRAP and Star Rating Global Project Coordinator, Rafaela Machado, was also present during the session to address questions and queries by the participants.

The Youth Stars Programme, sponsored by FedEx, trains young leaders to use and apply the Star Rating for Schools (SR4S) methodology that was pioneered by iRAP. It runs for a total of four sessions, each held every Monday.

LEARN MORE ABOUT STAR RATING FOR SCHOOLS