The day began with voices travelling across time zones, as home check-ins brought reflections from India, Vietnam, Ghana and Senegal into the room – grounding the Forum in shared experience from across the network.
Discussions then turned to skills, not as theory but as lived practice. During the Skills in Action session, adolescent representatives from all six countries shared how they are building leadership, advocacy, digital and creative skills through their projects, and how these skills are already shaping change in their communities. Learning moved across borders as young people reflected together on what works, what travels, and what inspires.
In the afternoon, conversations moved into the city itself. Through the Our Cities, Our Spaces session, young people and adults explored what makes urban environments safer, healthier and more inclusive for adolescents – from public spaces and services to the everyday design choices that influence how young people move, meet and feel in their cities.
The day concluded with a field visit to Ho Youth Park, a youth-led space developed through the Young and Safe project in Ghana. Experiencing the space together – and hearing directly from those who shaped it – grounded the day’s learning in something tangible and hopeful.
As the sun set, participants came together through music, dance and shared celebration, reminding us that connection, culture and joy are also powerful forms of learning.
