The Global Congress for Youth Councils in Morocco, in cooperation with SDG Corps and Children and Youth Constituency for Sustainable Communities, is organizing its first Master Class on : Rebuilding Sustainable Cities and Communities through Architecture, Art and Technology this coming 23 April 2022, 10 AM EST (2 PM Rabat time). 

The nexus of technology, art and architecture is truly a powerful expression of co-creating built environments within communities. From places of worship, to palaces and granaries, to historic city centres, cultural and natural sites, protection and conservation of heritage is another shared cause by the international community. 

Master Class: Rebuilding Sustainable Cities and Communities through Architecture, Art and Technology 

23 April 2022, 10 AM Eastern Standard Time (2 PM Rabat time)

Moderated from the studios of AsiaTV and AfricaTV, Regine Guevara of SDG Realty Inc. will be leading the discussion with Nidal Benali, Chief Organizer, Global Congress for Youth Councils - Morocco, and ICESCO Youth Peace Ambassador. An opening panel will see the coming together of Asia and Africa’s best practices, with Mr. Nassim Mohand Amer, Head of Cultural and Creative Industries, ICESCO, and  2 distinguished artivists, Mdme. Cecile Guidote Alvarez, UNESCO Artist for Peace and Mdme. Hedva Ser, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and Special Envoy for Cultural Diplomacy. 

Featured projects include Regenesis Art Hub for Sustainability, Lokal Lab-Philippines, and the China Agricultural University.  

Meanwhile in the Philippines and China, the most basic unit of governance in the form of “villages”. The program SDG Villages is dedicated to work with the public and private sectors to localize the Global Goals. In the words of SDG Corps founder, Alex Wang “social business is about bringing different stakeholders to address a social issue in the long term, in a sustainable way for all.”

The round table discussion will be facilitated by students from Climate School, Columbia University. 

• What are the best practices in community-based green architecture in your cities?

• How do you garner community buy-in before establishing green architecture?

• How are you mindful of preventing gentrification after increasing the amount of green spaces in a neighborhood?

• What are aftercare costs associated with green architecture and do you come to an agreement with the city regarding the budget? 

• How can art and technology help to expand on precedent architecture or design frameworks?

• What stories/ narratives do we want art and design to tell to future generations?

• Today, the confluence of industry sectors offers us access to collaboration, innovation and phenomena we never had in history. What kind of knowledge, principles, values and skills are essential to harmonize the grown and built environment?

• What kind of human-nature interactions should be encouraged through art, design and city-planning?

Leading up to the World Urban Forum, as well as the next SDG Art Festival, a Call to Action will be lead by key youth organizations: Sofya Iganetko, Major Group for Children and Youth, SM Shaikat, UN Habitat Youth Advisory Board, and Maiya Suyunchalyeva, Friends for Leadership. The key message is this —— Building cities is about building communities. Infrastructures and innovations are meant to serve the people, and not the other way around. Needless to say, the battle to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals is always won or lost at the local.