This week, YOURS – Youth for Road Safety joined global leaders and advocates at the Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative (TUMI) Conference in Leipzig, Germany. As the world explores bold ideas for sustainable transport, we brought a powerful reminder: there’s no sustainability without safety.
Because what’s the point of building green cities if young people can’t walk, bike, or move safely in them?
Youth voices shaping urban mobility
At TUMI 2025, YOURS actively contributed to the conversation by bringing the youth perspective to the forefront. As part of the official programme, Sanaa Khasawneh, Advocacy and Campaigns Manager at YOURS, joined a key panel discussion focused on how society shapes urban mobility systems. The session featured diverse voices, including:
Serhiy Derkach, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Infrastructure, Ukraine
Bright Oywaya, Global Road Safety Partnership, Kenya
Sanaa Khasawneh, YOURS
Together, they explored how local leadership and lived experience can drive lasting change. Representing youth voices, Sanaa shared the importance of designing cities with young people, not just for them — ensuring their experiences and ideas are part of the solution. She closed with a powerful spoken word poem, capturing the stories and emotions behind the fight for safer streets.
Honouring remarkable youth leadership
TUMI 2025 also marked the launch of the publication: Remarkable Young Voices in Transport
This collection highlights inspiring young changemakers from around the world, including:
Sanaa Khasawneh, recognised for her global advocacy work with YOURS.
Cecilia Melgar, a passionate advocate for safer and more inclusive cities, whose legacy continues to inspire. Cecilia’s memory lives on through Pedalea Seguro, a youth-led project in Lima, Peru supported by the Global Youth Coalition for Road Safety. The initiative promotes cycling as a safe and efficient mode of transport by improving infrastructure, raising public awareness, and building partnerships for a bike-friendly city.
Cecilia’s story is a reminder that behind every bicycle is a dream, a journey, and a life worth protecting. Her spirit continues to guide this movement with empathy, courage, and love.