"Cities around the world"

"Cities around the world - when our cities tell their tale" is the 5th international campaign for sustainable development awareness, undertaken by Veolia Environnement for 8 to 11 year old children.

The theme of the 2008 competition

In 2008 children participated in the operation given the opportunity to speak for their city. A city that wants to live in harmony, not only with the Earth, but also with the people that live there, and offer a better future.

Children personified their city in their own words, talked about its desires and dreams, and offered a pictures of how they see it in a not-too-distant future.

Children submitted two drawings accompanied by a story to share their vision for their city with the other children of the world. They described the city in which they are now living, what makes it special, and the city in which they would like to live in the future, via a major and essential project. "I" was used in the story only to allow the city to speak.

The partners of the operation

UNESCO and its national commissions, United Nations Decade for Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014), together with its national committees, UNESCO Associated Schools Project Network, Air France KLM and Groupe Accor all provided their support to our 5th international campaign for sustainable development awareness.

Countries that took part in the 2008 program

• Africa: Egypt, Gabun, Niger, Democratic Republic of Congo,
• America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, the United States, Mexico, Venezuela,
• Asia: China, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Sultanate of Oman,
• Europe: Germany, Austria, France, Island of Reunion, Hungary, Poland, Portugal Czech Republic, Rumania, the United Kingdom, Slovakia,
• Oceania: Australia, Mauritius, New Zealand,

June 2008 - The Awards Ceremony in Paris

Two pupils from each country were invited to Paris for a grand international meeting involving all the winning children.

The high point of this very special meeting was the award ceremony and the official opening of the "Cities around the World - when our cities told their tales " exhibition at the "Cite de l'architecture" in Paris on June 13, 2008.

The 3-day meeting also featured cultural workshops, sightseeing tours and culture-based entertainment.

It was all about cultural diversity and and discussion!