My City Real World aims to address the damaged relationship between young people, and the police in many European countries. Second Wave’s youth-led approach works to inform the quality of policing by recognizing the needs and priorities of local young people rather than performance targets or political agendas. It aims to strengthen the capacity of police officers to exercise sound professional judgement based on their knowledge and understanding of local young people. For more info see www.mycityrealworld.org
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19, 20 November 2010
Together in Europe, Rotterdam Conference

Led by young facilitators, the Second Wave team offered a series of practical workshops and presentations summarizing the five-year journey of Second Wave’s work in the Critical Encounters and how this work informed the concept and methodology behind the International Initiative, My City Real World, and inviting partners to discuss future collaborations between UK and Europe. The conference, organized by the International Debate Education Association in cooperation with the Open Society Youth Initiative, enabled different organizations to share ideas about successful projects focusing on the inclusion of marginalized, migrant and minority youth. For more info www.idebate.org/rotterdam2010/

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3 – 5 June 2010
International Weekend Event

The June event invited guests from the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Wales, Suffolk and USA, for an interactive three-day conference led by young people. Guests participated in workshops and discussions with police officers from London, and explored the principles of Second Wave’s approach to working across boundaries.

Interactive workshops led by young people from Second Wave and SSLC (Somali and Somaliland London Community), explored barriers to participation, challenging stereotypes, and promoting the active engagement of young people in civil society, democracy and decision-making.

Performances by young artists explored the issue of trust and belonging, in particular for marginalised groups in community settings. The three day event concluded with Open City – Fresh!, a performance of new drama and spoken word created by young artists.



‘Team work was fantastic. It united the group from the start…’
 
‘The weekend was great…a good balance between interaction, discussion and performance’
 
‘I learnt so much from Dutch police officers and youth workers…’
 
‘A pleasure to engage with young people’
 
‘Informative, invigorating, interesting…well worth my time’

'The young peoples' performances were powerful'
 
‘A very safe environment was created for us…’
 
‘Different kinds of people, all societies, ages, doing things together’
 
‘I think this project’s got a chance in Holland’
 
'Look forward to working on collaborative projects'

In 2007 Second Wave was awarded a Commendation from the Metropolitan Police Service for the excellence of its partnership work with TSG4 (Territorial Support Group)

Photos by Sarah Ainslie

Download the MY CITY REAL WORLD JUNE 2010 EVENT programme here.

Download the list of delegates here.