VOICES Even in Vancouver, life can be tough By Tomas Ernst Canadian cities, like many around the world, are faced with pressures of increased urbanization, changing economic and social circumstances, mass migration and the need for more private and public investment. Even in a prosperous country like Canada not all Canadians benefit: there is persistent poverty in certain neighborhoods and the homelessness problem continues to grow. Vancouver is our third largest city. In 1993, the big department store, Woodwards, closed down. The source of employment, food and household goods for many in the local community and beyond for over 100 years, its building has remained vacant for many years and much debate has surrounded its future. Its loss meant that life for the people in the community became worse with an increase in poverty, high unemployment and crime. This area in Canada has the highest per capita rate of HIV infected, drug users, and many citizens were demanding something be done quickly to address these growing social problems. In September 2002, people from the community squatted outside the building to protest the different level of government's inaction. The municipal government purchased it from the Province of British Columbia and decided to bring the building back to life. The city has begun to consult with all stakeholders, including young people, in designing and planning the redevelopment of the building in a way that is socially, environmentally and economically sustainable. Vancouver Mayor, Larry Campbell, likely host of the 2006 World Urban Forum, understands the need to involve youth in important urban projects. "The needs, aspirations and contributions of young people also need to be reflected in the life of the city." Vancouver is one of the most progressive cities in the world in terms of youth policy. It has adopted a civic youth strategy that recognizes all citizens. The city fathers believe that involving youth in community based projects is a meaningful way of engaging young people and that building a strong foundation for their involvement today means a legacy of youth involvement tomorrow. Expanding from the local level is the involvement of grassroots organizations, such as the Environmental Youth Alliance (EYA), also based in Vancouver. EYA is a major employer of young people at risk. In partnership with Redwire Native Youth Media, it also publishes a quarterly magazine called Redwire, which is distributed to over 40,000 aboriginal youth, activists, teachers and students. Written and edited by aboriginal youth, Redwire works to empower and educate its readers. It recently asked readers about their hopes for the future. Shannon Johnny, a young aboriginal woman, replied: "To feel supported and empowered, to be able to walk with pride and dignity, to feel successful and to feel proud to have beautiful brown skin." Yet, even with awareness creating magazines such as Redwire, the reality is that the majority of Canadians still have no clue about the harshness of life on Reserves, the inadequate shelter and clothing provided to the homeless to brave the intolerable Canadian winters and the increase in air and noise pollution as a result of the rural exodus. But let us not lose hope. National organizations such as the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) are looking to mobilise youth involvement in municipalities across Canada. Jean Chrétien, Prime Minister of Canada, has invested heavily in youth exchanges between Africa and Canada to promote good governance in priority areas, such as health and education. The tools are there. We just need to get out there and do it. Tomas Ernst, 24, is Canada's representative on the UN Environment Programme's Tunza Youth Advisory Council In a world that so often decries the apathy of its youth, we can open our arms for the millions of adolescents eager to contribute their new ideas and bounding enthusiasm. - former South African President Nelson Mandela. In Swaziland, problems of education and growing slums By Siphesihle Pearl Nhlabatsi There is a major need for the local governments in Swaziland to provide forums where all young people will be brought together and all the development issues are discussed. Also the local government should then support the youth organizations in all their projects. This can help in bringing about changes that will benefit society at large. Schools in Swaziland do not teach young people about sustainable development issues. Schools often do not teach young people to be self reliant. There is a great need for the Ministry of Education to provide all schools in Swaziland with facilities like computers so that schools are able to produce technically competent personnel and also enable youths to get as much information as possible. There is a problem of urbanization in Swaziland. The situation is even more pronounced in the hub of the country, Manzini. Many young, able-bodied men and women migrate from rural areas into urban areas to look for jobs. Like in many developing African countries, employment is scarce. Unfortunately, these people do not return to the rural areas. They remain in the towns and cities, which have many adverse effects on the urban areas, such as increased crime. Young people take to crime to get money for food, and, more distressingly, to buy drugs. With the rapid urbanization comes the growth in slums on the city outskirts. Sanitation in these slums is very poor. There is inadequate water and electricity. Social services are very poor. This is because the local government cannot handle the pressure caused by the mushrooming of slums. There is still a lot to be done. Progress is possible if the local and state governments invest in the most valuable resource, which is the youth. Siphesihle Pearl Nhlabatsi, 17, is a pupil at the Evelyn Baring High School in Nhlangano, Swaziland. A member of a group of 15 young people aged up to 25, called Nhlangano Youth, she visited UN-HABITAT headquarters in Nairobi as a youth delegate to the19th Governing Council in May 2003.