Why NextGenC: Urban Connected Generation?

In September 2023, faced with the challenge of naming a project aimed at transforming youth participation and urban governance in Colombia, we decided to directly involve youth in this crucial decision. NextGenC, the name originally proposed by the member organizations, reflected modernity and a projection into the future of the project. However, there were reservations that, when translated into Spanish, the name could be negatively associated with an outlaw group.

To ensure that the project's name authentically resonated with Colombian youth and reflected their aspirations, a survey was conducted among young people who had previously participated in initiatives with Despacio. We received 61 responses from young people from departments such as Atlántico, Boyacá, Valle, Cundinamarca, and Amazonas, among others, ensuring a diversity of opinions.
The survey results were enlightening: 47.5% preferred UrbanTech: Connected Generation, while NextGenC received 27.9% support. This information was crucial for the team's decisions. Considering the support that NextGenC still had, it was decided to merge the two names, resulting in NextGenC: Urban Connected Generation. This name not only retains the innovative character of the original but also incorporates a description in Spanish that clarifies the purpose of the project: to connect and empower the next generation of urban leaders in Colombia.

What is NextGenC?

NextGenC: Connected Urban Generation is a project that promotes youth participation in urban governance through the use of technology. It is part of the TYPCities program (Technology and Youth Participation in the Governance of Intermediate Cities in Low and Middle-Income Countries) funded by the Botnar Foundation and implemented by the London School of Economics (LSE), ICESI and Los Andes universities, as well as Despacio and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), all organizations committed to strengthening democracy and peace through youth inclusion.