Revitalization and the Hyperlocal Economy: Shaping Sustainable Futures

Figure: Ms. Annesofie Norn, Lead Curator at UN Live addressing the delegates from India & Bangladesh - Introducing #MyMarkMyCity Campaign

In 2015, we launched India’s first-ever youth café in a 60 year old building, Urban Desi House, which became a hub for over 57,000 young people. Through our omnichannel presence in the heart of Chennai’s IT corridor, we provided them with opportunities, connections, and skills—integrating digital tools with physical spaces to enable young people to thrive in creative and cultural industries (CCI). This small but powerful initiative, tucked away in Chennai, revealed the transformative potential of revitalized spaces to contribute to the global gig economy. Our research shows that young people’s access to safe, dynamic spaces shapes not only their individual productivity but also fosters innovation, especially within the hyperlocal economy.

Revitalizing Spaces for Youth and Sustainable Development:

Yet, globally, 1 in 5 youth are neither in school, training, nor employment. This demographic challenge demands more youth-centered spaces where young changemakers can thrive. By using an omnichannel approach, combining physical spaces with digital platforms, we are working to offer youth opportunities for informal learning, creative expression, and social support. These spaces don’t just serve individuals; they foster community resilience, creativity, and economic empowerment.

Mainstreaming Sustainable Lifestyles: A Need of the Hour: The way we live today, shaped by our environment and spaces, plays a crucial role in determining how we will thrive tomorrow. At RAVE, we have consistently asked, How do the spaces around us shape not just our behaviors, but also our aspirations, communities, and collective futures? The answer is clear: our spaces and lifestyles are interconnected, and revitalizing them is the key to unlocking sustainable development on a global scale.

What is a Sustainable Lifestyle?

A sustainable lifestyle reflects how we live, guiding our habits, consumption, and behavior. It defines our social and environmental footprint, influencing not only our identity and health but also the collective well-being of the planet. Sustainable living is a responsibility we all share to ensure a healthier, more equitable society for future generations.

In revitalizing our spaces, we revitalize our future!

Why Sustainable Living is Urgent:

By 2050, two-thirds of the global population will live in cities. Urbanization is already responsible for 60-80% of greenhouse gas emissions and consumes 75% of natural resources. If current trends continue, humanity will need the equivalent of two Earths by 2030 to sustain itself. This is unsustainable. Encouragingly, society is starting to recognize the impact of daily choices through practices like urban gardening, vehicle sharing, and carbon footprint reduction campaigns. However, living sustainably is not just an individual endeavor—it requires governments, businesses, and communities to align policies that promote sustainability.

Research and interventions conducted in over 3 million square feet of physical infrastructure, such as coworking spaces and cafes, revealed more than 300 unique ways young people use these spaces. From artists booking spaces for client meetings to startup founders organizing freelancer meetups, the needs of the youth—our future changemakers—are as diverse as they are vital. Yet, these spaces, which are integral to fostering creativity and innovation, are often unavailable, inaccessible, or simply not designed to meet the needs of today’s youth, especially in the post-pandemic world.

Youth-Driven Spaces: A Catalyst for Creative and nature-loving economies:

Spaces like Urban Desi House contribute significantly to the creative economy, which generates 2,250 billion USD annually and employs 30 million people globally, primarily youth. By connecting local brands, entrepreneurs, and Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI) professionals, these spaces become incubators for economic growth. Pop-up architecture and temporary usage of disused urban spaces open up new opportunities for local communities to participate in sustainable regeneration.

The Triple Planetary Crisis and Sustainable Cities:

Cities and buildings alone contribute to nearly 40% of global carbon emissions. Through urban regeneration, adaptive reuse of heritage buildings, and tactical urbanism, RAVE aims to tackle this by revitalizing disused plots and decaying urban spaces. This approach not only addresses climate concerns but also contributes to cultural preservation, making urban spaces vibrant social, cultural, and economic hubs.

A Call to Action:

Through RAVE, we encourage everyone to embrace sustainable lifestyles that are inclusive and regenerative. By revitalizing underutilized spaces, we aim to make sustainability accessible to the youth, who will be the architects of our future. Sustainable living is a collective endeavor—whether you're a part of local brands, creative industries, or an entrepreneur, your participation helps regenerate cities and strengthen the hyperlocal economy.

Together, we can mainstream sustainable lifestyles, redesign our cities, and foster a future where youth and sustainable development walk hand in hand, one space at a time.

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Send Email at : youth@indianyouthcafe.org