New Child in the City chairman ‘excited’ about 2024 seminar
‘Please join us in helping to shape the future of young people in cities’ – the words of Hans Migchielsen, chair of the Child in the City Foundation as he looks forward to our forthcoming 2024 seminar.
Child experts from across the globe will convene in Rotterdam in December for what will be the first Child in the City event with Hans as chairman since he took over earlier this year from Johan Haarhuis.
Three specific topics form the basis for the seminar, and they are: Inclusive Spaces and Initiatives for Play and Sports; Children’s Mobility and Climate Change and Climate Justice.
We at Child in the City will once again be hosting some of the foremost experts on issues around children and their lives in cities, and we are currently accepting abstract proposals from individuals who would like to be a presenter at the event. The closing date for abstracts is 1 September.
And for Hans Migchielsen (below) in particular it promises to be a particularly memorable event, as he explains: “We’re very excited about the Child in the City seminar this December, and the foundation is looking forward to assessing all of the interesting and thought-provoking abstracts that are being submitted.
“On a personal level, this will be the first Child in the City event since I became chairman of the foundation, and I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to my predecessor, Johan Haarhuis.
“Over the years he did an outstanding job in helping raise the profile of the foundation to such an extent that its name is now known globally, with our supporters and audience stretching far and wide. I look forward to continuing this work for the foundation.”
The content for this year’s seminar, to be held from 3-4 December, will reflect a growing body of evidence showing that a lack of physical activity can – and indeed is having – a significant impact on young peopleā€™s health. This is illustrated by rising figures of obesity, decreased motor skills, mental problems, isolation, and loneliness.
With these negative trends in mind, it’s essential that we have strong leadership from governmental and other organisations right across the professional scale, and so if we – as a society – are truly committed to increasing opportunities for children to take part in everyday physical activities, we must do all we can to ensure the collaboration of professionals from different disciplines.
Hans continued: “The seminar in Rotterdam promises to be another outstanding event, and we will be staging discussions, presentations and workshops that will help promote some of the excellent work being done out there to improve the lives and protect the rights of children in cities everywhere.
“Please join us in helping to shape the future of young people in cities – I look forward to seeing you in Rotterdam.”
More information about the programme is available here – and once again don’t forget the closing date for abstract submissions is midnight on 1 September.
