Safe well-functioning communities are everyone’s responsibility. All citizens have something to
contribute and a right to be heard. We often hear that “children and youth are our future”, but their
opinions and needs are rarely considered in decisions affecting the future of our communities.
In 1989, the safety and well-being of children and youth in communities around the world was
recognized by the United Nations with the signing of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The most widely ratified human rights treaty in history, the Convention calls upon us all to recognize
the rights of children, and to ensure that every child has a happy childhood and enjoys the same
rights and freedoms that all individuals are entitled to.
Article 12 of the Convention states that every child should have the right to express views freely in
all matters affecting him or her. This right does not give children and youth a right to self
determination, but does advocate their involvement in decision-making. It speaks to the right to be
heard when decisions are being made that affect them and is a form of participatory democracy that
promotes responsible citizenship. The capacity for responsible citizenship is shaped in childhood
through education, practice, observation and opportunity.
Through the promotion of children’s and youth’s right to be heard and to participate, planners and
educators will demonstrate a respect for children and youth that will lead to a safer and healthier
tomorrow.
Through the exercises in this manual, children and youth will have an opportunity to express their
views and gain an understanding and appreciation of how planning is intimately linked to many
aspects of their daily lives and the future of their communities.
The manual is organized into five sections, each examining various aspects of community and
community planning. Exercises can be used on their own or together, and modified to fit the
particular circumstances of the location where it is being used.