Appreciative Inquiry Approach to Enable Child-Friendly Cities Worldwide

 

Introduction

The concept of child-friendly cities is rooted in the belief that urban environments should be designed to support the well-being, safety, and holistic development of children. A child-friendly city promotes children’s rights to adequate living standards, education, health, and play as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Such cities are characterized by safe, inclusive, and engaging environments where children’s voices are heard, and their needs are prioritized.

The third World Child-Friendly Cities Conference, held in Kathmandu from June 27-29, 2013, was a significant event that brought together over 200 delegates from 15 different countries. The primary objective of the conference was to explore and promote innovative approaches to developing child-friendly cities. Dr. RC Lamichhane facilitated a workshop that focused on using the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) approach to foster child-friendly cities globally. This report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the workshop, scientific evidence supporting the development of child-friendly cities, and the role of AI in this endeavor.

Objectives of the Workshop

1. To introduce the concept of Appreciative Inquiry and its application in creating child-friendly cities.
2. To identify and share success stories and best practices from various countries.
3. To engage participants in a collaborative process to envision and design strategies for child-friendly urban environments.
4. To develop actionable plans and policies to translate the vision of child-friendly cities into reality.
5. To foster a sense of ownership and commitment among participants to advocate for and implement child-friendly initiatives in their respective contexts.

Understanding Child-Friendly Cities

A child-friendly city is one that ensures children’s rights and well-being are central to urban planning and governance. These cities provide safe spaces for play, education, and social interaction, and they foster environments where children can thrive. According to research, child-friendly urban planning leads to improved physical and mental health, better educational outcomes, and increased social cohesion (Whitzman et al., 2010). For instance, access to green spaces has been shown to reduce stress and enhance mental health in children (Wells & Evans, 2003). Additionally, safe pedestrian pathways and reduced traffic accidents correlate with increased physical activity and lower obesity rates among children (Mackett et al., 2007).

Appreciative Inquiry: Enabling Child Friendly Cities

Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a collaborative and strengths-based approach to organizational development that focuses on identifying and leveraging the positive aspects of a community or organization. Developed by David Cooperrider and Suresh Srivastva in the 1980s, AI involves four key phases: Discovery, Dream, Design, and Destiny (Cooperrider & Srivastva, 1987).

Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a transformative approach that focuses on identifying and leveraging the strengths within a community to foster positive change. In the context of developing child-friendly cities, AI engages stakeholders, including children, parents, educators, urban planners, and local government officials, in a collaborative process to envision and create environments that prioritize the well-being and development of children. By emphasizing positive experiences and existing successes, AI helps communities to build on what works well, fostering a sense of ownership and collective responsibility. For instance, AI workshops can facilitate the sharing of successful strategies from different regions, allowing participants to learn from each other and co-create innovative solutions tailored to their specific contexts.

 

Discovery Phase: Identifying Strengths and Positive Cores

In the Discovery phase, participants identify existing strengths and positive attributes that contribute to a child-friendly environment. This phase involves engaging stakeholders to share stories of success and excellence, which helps to uncover the community’s core values and strengths. During the Kathmandu conference, national and international delegates shared success stories from Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal, and India. For example, Japan’s “Kodomo Yume Plaza” project was highlighted for its innovative community spaces designed specifically for children (Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, 2013). Similarly, Malaysia’s “Child-Friendly Kuala Lumpur” initiative demonstrated how urban design could incorporate safe play areas and child-centric facilities (UNICEF Malaysia, 2012).

Dream Phase: Envisioning the Future

The Dream phase encourages participants to envision a future where cities fully embrace child-friendly principles. This phase is crucial as it allows stakeholders to imagine what their city could look like if it were optimized for children’s well-being. Countrywide presentations at the conference showcased various innovative ideas, such as integrating green spaces, pedestrian zones, and educational hubs within urban settings. The involvement of children in the planning process was emphasized, aligning with findings that children’s participation leads to more relevant and effective urban solutions (Driskell, 2002). This phase allowed participants to collectively imagine and articulate what an ideal child-friendly city would look like, setting the stage for the subsequent design phase.

Design Phase: Developing Innovative Strategies

In the Design phase, participants collaboratively develop strategies to transform their visions into reality. This phase involves brainstorming and planning actionable steps that can be taken to create child-friendly environments. The conference workshop generated several compelling strategies, including:

• Implementing policies that prioritize child safety in traffic planning.
• Designing multifunctional spaces that serve educational, recreational, and social purposes.
• Encouraging public-private partnerships to fund child-friendly infrastructure projects.

This phase is crucial as it translates the aspirational visions from the Dream phase into concrete, actionable strategies. For instance, participants discussed the need for cross-sector collaboration, engaging local governments, private sector partners, and community organizations to ensure the sustainability of child-friendly initiatives.

Destiny Phase: Translating Plans into Action

The Destiny phase focuses on the implementation and sustainability of the proposed strategies. Participants discussed actionable plans, such as creating monitoring frameworks to track progress and ensuring community engagement throughout the process. The role of local governments was highlighted as crucial in providing leadership and resources to support these initiatives (Blakely & Boles, 2013).

In this phase, participants committed to taking specific actions within their communities to advance the goals of child-friendly cities. This included establishing local AI teams to champion the initiatives, securing funding, and engaging with policymakers to integrate child-friendly policies into urban planning frameworks.

Scientific Evidence Supporting Child-Friendly Urban Planning

The research underscores the importance of child-friendly urban planning. Studies show that access to green spaces reduces stress and improves mental health in children (Wells & Evans, 2003). Safe pedestrian pathways and reduced traffic accidents correlate with increased physical activity and lower obesity rates among children (Mackett et al., 2007). Moreover, inclusive educational environments foster social skills and cognitive development (Ginsburg, 2007).

Appreciative Inquiry in Action: Case Studies

Case Study 1: Penang, Malaysia

Penang, Malaysia, has made significant strides in creating a child-friendly city through the “Penang Child-Friendly City Initiative.” The city engaged children, parents, and local communities in envisioning and designing urban spaces. Successes include the creation of safe pedestrian zones, child-centric public parks, and community centers that offer educational and recreational activities. The involvement of children in the planning process has led to more relevant and effective solutions, aligning with AI principles.

• Safe Pedestrian Zones: The initiative has led to the establishment of pedestrian zones where children can walk and play safely, free from traffic hazards. This aligns with findings that pedestrian zones significantly reduce accidents involving children (Mackett et al., 2007).
• Child-Centric Public Parks: Public parks designed with children’s needs in mind have been developed, offering spaces for play, socialization, and physical activity. Research indicates that access to green spaces is crucial for children’s mental and physical health (Wells & Evans, 2003).
• Community Centers: Community centers offering educational and recreational activities provide safe spaces for children to learn and engage in productive activities. These centers promote social cohesion and community engagement, essential components of a child-friendly city (Blakely & Boles, 2013).

Case Study 2: Yogyakarta, Indonesia

The “Child-Friendly Yogyakarta” initiative focuses on safe school routes, accessible public parks, and inclusive educational programs. Through AI workshops, local stakeholders, including children, co-created strategies to enhance the city’s child-friendliness. The program has resulted in reduced traffic accidents involving children and increased community engagement in urban planning.

• Safe School Routes: The initiative includes creating safe routes for children to walk or bike to school, which has led to a noticeable decrease in traffic accidents involving children. Studies show that safe routes to school encourage physical activity and reduce the risk of obesity.
• Accessible Public Parks: Similar to Penang, Yogyakarta has developed accessible public parks that provide safe, green spaces for children to play and interact. These parks are designed with input from children, ensuring they meet the users’ needs and preferences
• Inclusive Educational Programs: The city has implemented educational programs that are inclusive and cater to the diverse needs of its child population. This approach has been shown to improve educational outcomes and foster a sense of belonging among children.

Appreciative Inquiry and Transport Management

AI can also enhance transport management systems, addressing road and air safety issues in Nepal. By focusing on positive aspects and collaborative solutions, AI encourages stakeholders to envision and implement safer, more efficient transport networks.

AI in Road Safety: Sweden’s Vision Zero

Sweden’s Vision Zero initiative, which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries, employs AI principles by focusing on systemic changes and stakeholder collaboration. The program has successfully reduced road fatalities through measures such as improved road design, stricter regulations, and public awareness campaigns (Tingvall & Haworth, 1999).

By adopting the Vision Zero approach, Nepal can effectively address its high rates of road accidents and improve overall road safety. Vision Zero, which originated in Sweden, is a multi-faceted strategy that aims to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries. The approach involves comprehensive road safety audits, which are essential for systematically evaluating existing roadways to identify potential hazards. These audits cover various aspects such as road conditions, signage, lighting, and traffic flow. By conducting regular and thorough road safety audits, Nepal can proactively identify and address potential risks before they result in accidents. This requires collaboration between government agencies, traffic engineers, and community stakeholders to ensure a holistic and inclusive assessment process. Implementing these audits can lead to targeted interventions that enhance road safety, such as improving visibility, upgrading infrastructure, and rectifying hazardous road features.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNQf6NbPMCY

Conclusion

Developing child-friendly cities in Nepal is a multifaceted challenge that demands innovative, inclusive, and collaborative approaches. Appreciative Inquiry (AI) offers a powerful framework for addressing these challenges by engaging stakeholders at all levels, from local communities to national policymakers. AI focuses on identifying strengths, fostering positive dialogue, and envisioning a better future for children. In the Nepalese context, this approach can help bridge the gap between urban planning and the specific needs of children. For instance, by involving children, parents, educators, and local authorities in the AI process, cities can gain valuable insights into what makes a safe and nurturing environment for children. This collaborative effort can lead to the creation of safer playgrounds, more accessible educational facilities, and child-friendly public spaces that encourage physical activity, learning, and social interaction. Moreover, by highlighting and building upon successful initiatives and positive aspects of the community, AI can foster a sense of ownership and collective responsibility toward making cities more child-friendly.

Leveraging AI principles can significantly enhance Nepal’s national credibility and global standing by showcasing the country’s commitment to the well-being, safety, and development of its youngest citizens. In Nepal, this approach can be extended to urban planning and development, ensuring that the needs of children are prioritized. By creating child-friendly cities, Nepal can not only improve the quality of life for its residents but also attract international attention and investment. This can lead to increased opportunities for economic development and collaboration with global partners. Furthermore, showcasing successful case studies from Nepal, where AI has been used to transform urban environments, can serve as an inspiration for other countries facing similar challenges. This reinforces the idea that child-friendly cities are not just a possibility but a tangible reality that can be achieved through collective effort and a positive, strengths-based approach.

References

• Cooperrider, D. L., & Srivastva, S. (1987). Appreciative Inquiry in organizational life. Research in Organizational Change and Development, 1, 129-169.
• Tingvall, C., & Haworth, N. (1999). Vision Zero – An ethical approach to safety and mobility. Annual Conference of the Swedish National Road Administration.

• Wells, N. M., & Evans, G. W. (2003). Nearby nature: A buffer of life stress among rural children. Environment and Behavior, 35(3), 311-330.
• Ginsburg, K. R. (2007). The importance of play in promoting healthy child developmentand maintaining strong parent-child bonds. Pediatrics, 119(1), 182-191.

• Mackett, R. L., Lucas, L., Paskins, J., & Turbin, J. (2007). The therapeutic value of children’s everyday travel. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 39(2-3), 205-219.

• Faulkner, G. E., Richichi, V., Buliung, R. N., Fusco, C., & Moola, F. (2009). What’s “quickest and easiest?”: Parental decision making about school trip mode. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 6(1), 1-11.

• Whitzman, C., Worthington, M., & Mizrachi, D. (2010). Child-friendly cities: A model of planning for sustainable development. World Vision International.
• UNICEF Malaysia. (2012). Child-Friendly Kuala Lumpur initiative. Kuala Lumpur.
• Blakely, E. J., & Boles, K. (2013). Creating child-friendly cities: Lessons from the Global South. Earthscan.
• Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism. (2013). Kodomo Yume Plaza project. Tokyo.