Ecuador

Ambato

Ambato, in Ecuador’s Tungurahua province, had a population of 395,893 in 2022, with nearly 27% under the age of 30. The city has since adopted a landmark ordinance, Ordenanza que promueve el emprendimiento, la inserción laboral y la participación activa de los jóvenes en el desarrollo del cantón Ambato, which promotes entrepreneurship, employment, and active youth engagement. The city government also promotes youth networks such as the ‘Consejo Consultivo de Juventud, ONEA Ambato and student councils, which mobilise young people across diverse sectors and provide young residents with opportunities to voice opinions and contribute to local decision-making.

young people engaged in capacity-strengthening activities

public sector organisations engaged

NGOs, academic institutions, and private sector organisations engaged

Making Ambato Safe and Sound

When the S²Cities programme began in Ambato, a 2023 survey of 1,558 young people revealed that safety in public spaces is a critical issue with 81% feeling unsafe in public spaces. The S²Cities in Ambato is hence rooted in place-based approach that combines art, culture, and youth engagement to activate neglected spaces and strengthen the social fabric of the city.

Huasipichanga, the local consortium partner, leads youth in transforming public spaces into catalysts for community connection and safety. Two pilot initiatives focus on reimagining public areas through creative, inclusive engagements have emerged out the innovation rounds Alongside these interventions, Huasipichanga organises a series of on-ground activations, including art workshops and open-air film screenings, that bring young people and residents together across Ambato. The programme delivers tailored sessions for public officials at intervention sites, building capacity around youth participation and placemaking. These dynamic activities help shift perceptions of safety, foster trust between youth and authorities, and position young people as co-creators in managing and revitalising urban spaces.

The Municipality of Ambato reinforces this momentum through key commitments to institutionalise youth-led placemaking. By embedding placemaking within city structures, Ambato transforms how its public spaces are imagined, managed, and shared, anchoring safety, creativity, and collaboration at the heart of urban life.

From Ideas to Impact

Discover youth initiatives, insights, and outcomes that highlight tangible progress in Ambato.

Actions and achievements

Youth-led initiatives launched, with 5 continuing beyond programme support

143

Community and advocacy activities carried out

Knowledge product developed to share learnings and inspire local change

Perceived change and youth empowerment

Enabling Systems Change

Establishment of the Municipal Roundtable on Youth Safety and Placemaking, formalising interdepartmental coordination on youth and safety agendas.
Municipal co-financing of RenovArte, directing USD 60,000–80,000 towards sewage and lighting upgrades as a dedicated public investment in youth-led initiatives.
Inclusion of young innovators in local governance, with youth invited to present proposals in Technical Operations Committees.
Shifts in officials’ perceptions of youth capacity, with city departments increasingly consulting youth teams on urban renewal priorities.
Youth–community co-creation through mingas and art-based placemaking, strengthening social cohesion and trust.

Espacio Sano y Seguro (Healthy and Safe Space)

Status

Operational

RenovArte (RenewArt)

Status

Operational

The Safe & Sound Cities project has made me realise the importance of building a community and how essential it is to connect with people through various activities that promote well-being and a sense of belonging. I am happy to be part of these spaces and to meet many other young people with diverse talents and skills. I recognise the effort and dedication of those who organised the project, and I hope it positively impacts the lives of many people.

Young Person from Ambato, 2024

Before, I thought change was only possible if it came from the Municipality. Now I know we can start that change ourselves — and they’re listening.

Young Person from Ambato, 2025

I just want to share that the S²Cities experience, with its activities and initiatives, has been truly rewarding for me. It has helped me integrate and reconnect with my community, while also learning about creative ways to benefit our city, Ambato, through art, painting, poetry, and other initiatives that promote collective well-being.

Young Person from Ambato, 2024

Taking part in the S²Cities initiatives has transformed how I see my city. It’s given me a voice and a genuine role in shaping safer, more vibrant communities.

Young Person from Ambato, 2024

The Safe and Sound Cities programme became a platform for youth like myself to be heard and valued in discussions about pressing community issues. Before, opportunities for youth participation were limited, but now, thanks to Safe and Sound Cities, we have a voice and an ally who will support and boost our confidence to share our ideas and insights. The programme equipped us with proper knowledge and the necessary resources to initiate projects and address challenges that our community is facing.

Young Person from Naga, 2024

When local youth from Cairo came, they were asking for suggestions on what to do at WUF, as it was their first time attending WUF. What we did is we shared our initiative, we shared about S²Cities. Hopefully someday they will have motivation to be involved in their city and bring change in their city, especially for the safety of the youth.

Young person from Naga, at the World Urban Forum, 2024

The capacity strengthening has helped me understand better about the ways and goals of S²Cities. It helped me understand my city better and have a better connection in my community. These experiences prepared me to share my learnings with other youth at WUF12.

Young person from Naga, at the World Urban Forum, 2024

With this ordinance, it feels like we’re finally being heard. The skate park isn’t just a youth project anymore or my brother’s place — it’s part of the city. The ordinance means the skate park isn’t just ours anymore — it belongs to the whole city, and that’s powerful.

Young Person from Naga, 2025

I never imagined I would meet so many people working on similar initiatives in their own cities. After speaking with young people from across Latin America who also use public space interventions, I realised how much we can share and learn from one another to strengthen our projects. It was inspiring to see how others are addressing urban safety, and to explore ways to engage beyond WUF.

Young person from Naga, at the World Urban Forum, 2024

Before this programme, I often felt helpless. I couldn’t go out or be anywhere in peace because it always felt like something terrible could happen at any moment. But now, things have changed, and being part of that change has made me feel truly connected to my city. Today, I feel like an essential member of it.

Young Person from Cuenca, 2024

The Biblio Río initiative secured logistical support and city permits while developing a plan to mobilise public–private donations and community participation. In collaboration with local reading organisations, this youth-led effort established a free and accessible urban library that connects reading with vibrant youth activities in public spaces.

Project coordinator for Biblio Río, Cuenca, 2024

The learnings and support from S²Cities have been truly wonderful and have strengthened us as a team. Today, we’re here together, showing what we as young people can do — right here, right now!

Young person from Cuenca, at the World Urban Forum, 2024

The programme prepared us for a hackathon by training us in public speaking and idea development. When we arrived in Egypt, they also organised a one-day English session to help us communicate effectively, which was essential for engaging with others here.

Young person from Cuenca, at the World Urban Forum, 2024

My highlight was standing in front of so many people at WUF and sharing my experiences from the S²Cities programme, especially how we’ve been implementing our initiatives. It was truly an incredible moment!

Young person from Cuenca, at the World Urban Forum, 2024

Fear once kept me from walking freely in my city. But through this initiative, I found the courage to claim my space, both literally and figuratively, and inspire others to do the same.

Young person from Cuenca, 2025

In the city of Bandung, we face complex challenges such as traffic congestion, waste management, and security. At the Bandung City Government, we are enthusiastic and fully supportive of the S²Cities Programme. In collaboration with ICLEI, WRI Indonesia, and Gerak, we are raising awareness and educating youth and citizens alike to take a more active interest in public projects. We invite everyone to join us in building a better Bandung. We are deeply grateful for this opportunity to collaborate — together, with everyone’s support, we can create a safer and more livable city!

Public sector representative, Bandung City Government, 2023

I believe a safe and thriving city is one with well-managed traffic, responsible and law-abiding road users, clean air, a healthy environment for its residents, and low crime rates.

Young person from Bandung, 2023

Youth participation is essential to achieving the SDGs, as we are the future generation of leaders, policymakers, and change agents. We bring the energy, creativity, and fresh perspectives needed to address the challenges our communities face today and in the future.

Young person from Bandung, 2023

Participating in S²Cities gave me invaluable exposure and deeper insight into complex urban issues. Engaging in discussions allowed me to actively learn and contribute to addressing these challenges, including exploring how budget allocations for various city services directly impact young people.

Young person from Bandung, 2023

In Bandung, a large portion of food waste ends up in landfills. Our innovation uses maggots to convert this waste into eco-friendly animal feed, creating a profitable and sustainable solution. Together with local communities who share our vision of a cleaner city, we are driving this project forward.

Team Amreta from Bandung, 2023

Placemaking empowers us to strengthen the bonds between people and the spaces they share, fostering collaboration in shaping public realms that maximise collective benefit while honouring the unique physical, cultural, and social characteristics that define a place and inspire its sense of belonging.

Team Kami Ruang Ketiga from Bandung 2023

S²Cities prepared us by providing training on how to communicate and connect with others. We also learned how to understand the needs of people from different countries and engage with diverse groups. Speaking at the Children and Youth Roundtable at WUF about our initiative, Happy Paws Pet Park was an incredible experience—something I’ll always cherish as a milestone in my life.

Young person from Baguio, at the World Urban Forum, 2024

I’ve seen young people evolve from participants into true changemakers. At first, many were hesitant to share their ideas in public forums, but now they actively engage with city officials and confidently advocate for their initiatives. I’m hopeful that this growing leadership will continue to shape an even more transformative future for the city.

Public sector representative, Baguio’s City Planning, Development, and Sustainability Office, 2024

There’s an immeasurable sense of delight in seeing a simple idea gradually grow into something bigger—especially when it brings people together and challenges each of us to improve. The debates and exchange of perspectives have helped us view situations from different angles and choose the best course of action for each issue. The S²Cities programme encouraged us to push beyond our limitations and think more creatively and innovatively in developing youth-led solutions.

Young Person from Baguio, 2024

Through the S²Cities programme, we elevated youth voices as catalysts for change and included them in the decision-making bodies of Baguio’s local councils. The goal is to achieve 30% youth representation in these councils, enabling young people to actively contribute to dialogues and discussions on the city’s pressing issues.

Public sector representative, Baguio City Planning, Development and Sustainability Office, 2024

One of the most powerful moments for me was when a policymaker admitted they had never considered how young people experience urban safety differently. It made me realise that my voice could truly shift perspectives.

Young Person from Baguio, 2024

Speaking alongside policymakers and city officials made me feel that our ideas truly matter. It was a turning point in recognising our role in driving urban transformation.

Young person from Envigado, 2024

S²Cities is a project that believed in us and gave us the tools to turn our ideas into reality. It showed us the importance of multi-stakeholder dialogue and the value of building the skills we need to believe in collective action, recognizing ourselves as agents of change in our own territories. Thanks to S²Cities, and to my initiative, I am here today, sharing the realities of my city with you.

Young person at Leader of Change Strategy, Envigado, 2024

S²Cities has truly transformed how we view youth participation. Its innovative approach has shifted public perceptions and fostered a culture of collaboration and inclusivity within our urban planning processes.

Public sector representative, Secretariat of Environment, Envigado, 2024

I’m going to tell you a true story — a story of possibility. It’s about Maria, a young woman from our collective (Hablalo) who grew up believing her ideas didn’t matter in her community. She was told she was too young, that she had to accept things as they were, that the city was designed that way and nothing could be changed. But one day, she decided to challenge that belief, and from that moment on, everything began to change. That young woman is me.

Young person from Envigado, at the World Urban Forum, 2024

The various activities carried out by S²Cities with young people, along with the opportunities given to us to participate, have significantly strengthened the inclusion of youth voices in decision-making processes. They have also helped us better understand what young people in our city truly need.

Public sector representative, Secretariat of Environment, Envigado, 2024

Local Consortium Partners

From ideas to impact — discover youth initiatives, insights, and outcomes that highlight tangible progress in Ambato.

People in the Programme

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Resources & Knowledge

Watch

Youth Initiative: Flow and Bars, Envigado

Video

October 2022

Envigado, Colombia

Local Partner

Youth Partner

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S²Cities is an initiative proudly led by the Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation, hosted by Swiss Philanthropy Foundation, with the support of Fondation Botnar.

The Safe and Sound Cities Programme operates on a strictly non-partisan basis across all our locations, project cities, and countries of operation. While our work may intersect with public policy, we are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supportive of any political party or political campaign. We encourage and empower young people to express themselves freely; any views they share within the Programme are their own.