Cuenca

Cuenca, the third-largest city in Ecuador,  according to 2022 population data, is characterised by its young population, with more than one-third of residents under the age of 20. Youth development is a city priority, supported by collaborations that promote entrepreneurship and civic engagement. Guided by the Youth Law and Article 39 of the Ecuadorian Constitution, the Municipal Government, Azuay Prefecture advances initiatives for youth participation in decision-making.

In Cuenca, young people face growing challenges in public spaces, as many spaces remain unsafe or underused, while stigma toward certain youth groups limits their ability to participate freely in community life. In response, Huasipichanga, the programme’s consortium local partner in Cuenca, empowers young people to reclaim and transform their city.

Huasipichanga’s “in-between” Innovation Engine model combines capacity building with co-creation. Following preparatory sessions on systems thinking and urban safety, high school and university students participate in a two-day hackathon to co-develop solutions alongside city actors. The resulting two youth-led initiatives emerged as creative platforms for civic engagement and urban transformation, addressing three priority issues identified by youth: mental health, insecurity in parks and plazas, and safety in public transport.  

To scale capacity strengthening and youth-led impact,  Huasipichanga has launched the Placemaking School (URBANO) , a learning and experimentation hub for urban solutions. Through engaging in global exchanges such as Placemaking Week Latin America and TEDx events, organising a youth-led podcast, participating in the Safe and Sound Cities Summit, and building active inter-institutional partnerships, young people are emerging as central actors in Cuenca’s urban transformation and prompting increased municipal investment in youth-led futures.