To achieve this, REACT will undertake five qualitative urban case studies in Rio de Janeiro, Bogotá, Durban, Hyderabad, and Guadalajara, alongside a Global South Youth Survey involving 12,000 respondents across 20 cities in 20 countries.
Two seminars: multiple perspectives
The Kick-Off Seminar on 24 April brought together 45–50 scholars from four continents, working across English and Spanish, to explore youth livelihoods, inequalities, and strategies for change in urban contexts across the Global South. The event was opened by Principal Investigator Professor Thomas Tufte (Loughborough University London), who outlined REACT’s core aims and conceptual framework.
He was followed by the project’s five country directors: Associate Professor Lauren Dyll (University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa), Associate Professor Eliana Herrera-Huerfano (Universidad de La Sabana, Colombia), Professor Raquel Paiva (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), Professor Vinod Pavarala (Mahindra University, India), and Professor Ana Zermeno (Universidad de Colima, Mexico). Each shared insights into the specific questions, challenges, and opportunities shaping their respective city-based case studies. The level of preparation and commitment across all five teams was evident, with strong engagement in pre-fieldwork planning—particularly in conducting contextual diagnostics to better understand the lived realities of urban youth.
Four days later, representatives from the six partner universities reconvened for the REACT Partners’ Meeting. Following a welcome address from Professor Aidan McGarry, Dean of Loughborough University London, and an introduction from Professor Tufte, five senior leaders (including Deans, Deputy Vice-Chancellors, and a Pro Vice-Chancellor) reflected on the question: “Why and how is REACT important and relevant to your university?”
Their reflections highlighted the project’s ambition and its relevance within the current political and economic climate. They emphasised the role of universities not only as data providers, but as contributors to theory-building. There was a shared recognition of the importance of researching youth livelihoods and agency at a time when young people face significant challenges, yet remain powerful agents of change. The discussion also underscored the value of REACT as a collaborative platform, enabling comparative research across shared global challenges. Ultimately, there was strong consensus that REACT represents a meaningful, values-driven research partnership committed to co-producing knowledge.