Cities4Children Blog

This is our platform for sharing insights, ideas for action, conversations and innovations that make cities better for children and young people.

How low‑emission zones create healthier, more child‑friendly cities

Air PollutionIdeas4Action

Anupama Nallari and Sarah Sabry at the Urban Hub @ Save the Children , March 3, 2026, 9 min

Low-emission zones, combined with complementary urban design measures, can dramatically improve the health and well-being of children worldwide. This blog offers practical examples and policy recommendations to create healthier, more inclusive urban environments for all city dwellers. What are low-emission zones (LEZs)? LEZs are city districts where vehicles that do not meet specified emission standards Read more →

Milan is giving streets and open spaces back to children

Public SpaceChild-friendly Cities in Europe

Sarah Sabry and Anupama Nallari at the Urban Hub @ Save the Children , February 4, 2026, 8 min

New blog series: Child-friendly cities in Europe Across Europe, cities are reimagining urban spaces to better support children’s health, learning, play, and safety. In this blog series, we speak with key stakeholders in city governments to understand how this change is happening on the ground and to share inspiring stories, practical ideas, and lessons from Read more →

5 Apps for child-friendly and smart cities

Inclusive Urban PlanningIdeas4Action

Anupama Nallari and Sarah Sabry at the Urban Hub @ Save the Children , January 13, 2026, 9 min

Digital apps enable residents to assess and improve the safety and inclusivity of public spaces. Turning citizen feedback into data-driven action helps cities create safer, more equitable places for children and caregivers.   As cities around the world embrace smart technologies, there’s a growing opportunity to make urban spaces more inclusive, especially for children and youth. Read more →

Designing Safe and Resilient Streets in Recife

Inclusive MobilityIdeas4Action

Eduarda Aun, December 10, 2025, 5 min

Recife, Brazil, is reimagining streets as safe, playful, and climate-resilient spaces for children. Through the Streets for Kids program, the city transformed 7000 m² of public space, benefiting thousands of children and caregivers. Building Safer Streets for Children: A Global Movement In 2022, the Streets for Kids program launched its first-ever Leadership Accelerator, bringing together Read more →

Co-Producing Climate Solutions with Children in Informal Settlements

Co-ProductionIdeas4Action

Barbara Summers, November 17, 2025, 8 min

How can we transform research and practice so that the lived experience and voices of communities and children in informal settlements can shape global climate resilience conversations? This blog explains how we did it in the waterfront settlements of Port Harcourt. Life in Port Harcourt’s waterfront settlements Port Harcourt is the largest city in the Read more →

Why Cities for Children? At least 24 reasons

Urban Issues

Sarah Sabry and Anupama Nallari at the Urban Hub @ Save the Children , October 28, 2025, 10 min

Millions of children face unsafe, unequal, and unhealthy city environments. This blog outlines 24 compelling reasons  why cities and towns must do better for children.  Today, most of the world’s children are growing up in cities and towns. Yet for too many children in low- and middle-income countries, urban life means inadequate housing, unhealthy living Read more →

How community healthcare workers improve child health in slums

Child HealthIdeas4Action

Tahmina Ferdousy, Kamrun Naher Ahmed, Mohammad Omar Faruque, Hayalnesh Tarekegn, and Rashed Shah from Save the Children's Bangladesh Sponsorship Team and the Urban Hub Team at Save the Children., September 23, 2025, 11 min

Community health workers (CHWs) in Bangladesh’s slums are improving healthcare access for children by addressing malnutrition, preventable diseases, adolescent sexual and reproductive health and maternal health. Organisations like BRAC and Save the Children are enhancing CHWs’ impact through training, mentoring and policy support, ensuring that the most at-risk children receive essential care.  The UN Convention Read more →

3 examples of Teen-Friendly Spaces in Cities

Public SpaceIdeas4Action

Sarah Sabry and Anupama Nallari at the Urban Hub @ Save the Children, August 12, 2025, 7 min

Many cities overlook teenagers in urban planning, leaving them without safe, welcoming places to gather, connect, and be themselves. From Cairo to Cuenca, examples show how co-creating teen-friendly public spaces can boost safety, inclusion, and well-being while making cities more vibrant for everyone. Does your city have spaces for teens to spend time with their Read more →

Inclusive Urban Agriculture Benefits Children in Quito, Ecuador

Green SpacesIdeas4Action

Tannya Pico and The Urban Hub Team @ Save the Children , July 15, 2025, 8 min

In the hills and valleys of Quito, Ecuador, a quiet green revolution has been unfolding for over two decades. The Metropolitan District of Quito’s Participatory Urban Agriculture Project, also known as AGRUPAR, has significantly improved food security, nutrition, and inclusion for thousands of vulnerable children and families across the city. Urban Growth and Inequality in Read more →

Making Inclusive Urban Spaces for Refugee and Displaced Children

Inclusive Urban PlanningIdeas4Action

Sarah Sabry and Anupama Nallari at the Urban Hub @ Save the Children and Aline Rahbany @ World Vision International, June 18, 2025, 9 min

As cities and towns become home to growing numbers of refugee and displaced children, local governments face urgent challenges to build inclusive, child-friendly urban spaces. This blog describes practical examples from Ramallah, Occupied Palestinian Territories, and Arsal, Lebanon, where municipalities and communities collaborate to improve public spaces and services for both host and refugee or Read more →

10 Ways to Make Streets Better for Children 

Transformed street with colourful protected and extended sidewalks © Colectivo Tomate
Inclusive MobilityIdeas4Action

Sarah Sabry and Anupama Nallari at the Urban Hub @ Save the Children , May 13, 2025, 11 min

This blog highlights practical, evidence-based actions and tools and guidance to make streets safer and more inclusive for children. From safer school zones to better walkability and cycling infrastructure, it shows how design, policy, and community engagement can transform urban streets into healthier, child-friendly spaces.  The Urgent Need for Safer Streets for Children  Road traffic Read more →

6 Examples of how data is transforming cities for children

Cities4Children Mapping blog cover image
Urban IssuesIdeas4Action

Anupama Nallari and Sarah Sabry at the Urban Hub @ Save the Children , April 29, 2025, 9 min

Children in urban poor neighborhoods often face hidden inequalities in health, education, and safety that go unnoticed in citywide data. This blog highlights how cities and organizations are using localized, disaggregated data to uncover these gaps and implement targeted solutions—from mapping childcare deserts and reintegrating out-of-school children to improving air quality around schools—ultimately creating more Read more →