By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 8: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) has shared its experience in implementing UNICEF’s Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) with an 11-member delegation from Pakistan during a study visit aimed at strengthening child-centred urban planning and governance.
The delegation, led by Lahore Development Authority (LDA) director Muhammad Ubaid Iqbal, comprised six representatives from the LDA, two representatives from other urban authorities in Lahore and three members of the UNICEF Pakistan team.
The delegation paid a courtesy call on MBKS Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng, who shared the council’s experience in incorporating children’s needs and views into its planning, programmes and decision-making processes.
The visit focused on the governance structures and institutional arrangements supporting child-friendly city development, as well as how these are translated into practical outcomes for children and families.
Areas of interest included child participation, local planning processes, public spaces, community facilities and approaches to creating more inclusive urban environments that respond to children’s needs.
Wee said MBKS’s CFCI approach combines community participation with a formal platform that enables children to contribute directly through the Kuching South Child Council.
“Children experience our city differently. They may notice an unsafe crossing on their way to school or a public space where they do not feel comfortable. Listening to them helps us understand what needs attention in our planning and daily work,” he said in a statement today.
He said MBKS’s CFCI Plan of Action is centred on four main areas, including survival and development, learning, protection and participation, which guide the council’s collaboration with government agencies, schools, community organisations and children.
Among the community-based activities carried out under the initiative are school safety audits, road safety campaigns, mental health awareness programmes and peer-led school engagement.
Through these activities, children are given opportunities to identify problems, share their experiences and propose ideas for improvements in their communities.
Wee said the Kuching South Child Council provides a structured platform for children aged between 12 and 16 from different backgrounds to discuss community issues, develop leadership skills and contribute to municipal planning.
“The Child Council must serve a meaningful purpose. Children’s participation should go beyond attending an event or being asked for their opinions.
“There must be a way for their views to be considered when we develop programmes and make decisions affecting them,” he said.
During the visit, the Pakistani delegation also engaged with members of the Kuching South Child Council to gain a better understanding of how children’s perspectives are incorporated into local policymaking and city development.
The exchange also allowed the delegation to hear directly from child council members about their experiences, participation and the issues affecting their daily lives.
Wee stressed that partnerships were essential to implementing a child-friendly city approach, noting that local authorities did not have direct responsibility for every issue affecting children.
He said MBKS therefore worked with relevant government agencies and community partners, supported by clear targets, regular feedback and training for those involved in implementing CFCI programmes.
He also highlighted the wider benefits of child-friendly urban planning, saying measures such as safer pedestrian routes, accessible community facilities and inclusive public spaces benefited not only children but also older persons, families and persons with disabilities.
“Kuching South is still learning, and we welcome opportunities to exchange experiences with other cities.
“We hope this visit will help both sides identify practical ways to give children a meaningful voice and build cities that better support their everyday lives,” he said. — DayakDaily
