Every young person carries unique dreams and aspirations. Yet do the Integrated Children and Youth Services Centres (ICYSCs) truly reflect their evolving needs? Through 21C@JC, with design thinking and participatory approaches, it empowers children and youth aged 6 – 24 to shape their own environment.

Extending beyond traditional service models, 21C@JC transforms ICYSCs into dynamic, future-ready spaces by connecting new online platforms with physical centers, blending digital and in-person experiences. By actively involving young people in youth-centric environments, they are also contributing directly to Hong Kong’s future.

Launched in December 2022 with an ICYSCs workers survey, and followed by engaging over 15 agencies and 36 centers to build a collaborative vision, which focuses on listening to young people’s voices and needs. This strengthens the connection between centers and youth, transforming spaces into youth-led environments where they truly belong.

Each center embarked on a comprehensive design thinking and co-creation journey which involved four workshops that brought together 30 youth participants and center staff, from housekeeping to management levels. Through these sessions, youth needs were understood while balancing operational constraints. This meaningful participation enhanced users’ ownership over decisions and provided a solid foundation for developing design. Through the five key phases of the structured design thinking approach – understanding context, exploring challenges, analysing findings, innovating solutions, and prioritising actions – each spatial design or programme development decisions emerges from rigorous research and collaborative dialogue, ensuring outcomes that authentically address the youth community’s needs.

Over a two-year journey, the design team collaborated intensively with over 1,000 young people, driving a comprehensive transformation of youth spaces. The engagement work also included 159 design thinking workshops with youth participants, complemented by 82 dedicated sessions with center staff. The project’s scope encompassed 36 ICYSCs, supported by more than 300 coordinated meetings with center teams and contractors. This extensive collaboration culminated in the successful transformation of 34 centers, each redesigned to better serve their communities through youth-centered approaches, creating spaces that authentically respond to youth needs and aspirations.