Envigado

According to 2022 population data, Envigado, the second-largest city in Colombia’s Antioquia region, is home to over 258,000 residents, including nearly 44,000 young people aged 12 to 29 (17% of the population). There is a growing national interest in creating avenues for youth engagement in political and civic matters. The Youth Office, established in 2013, engages local youth and promotes their well-being through the Municipal Plan for Youth 2015-2025, addressing education, health, sports, and culture. Despite these efforts, significant challenges persist in Envigado, particularly concerning youth involvement in decision-making spaces and a general distrust of government institutions.

When the programme implementation began in Envigado, led by Fundación Mi Sangre (FMS), a survey revealed that while 50% of young respondents were aware of municipal safety policies, only 22% felt meaningfully included in decision-making. 

In response, FMS advances the S²Cities systems approach in Envigado by strengthening institutional collaboration and embedding youth participation within the city’s governance structures through Unir para Construir (“Unite to Build”)—a capacity-strengthening programme bringing together decision makers across sectors to reflect, listen and co-create systemic solutions to youth safety challenges. In parallel, a targeted capacity-building training supports young people in strengthening their leadership skills through learning and collaboration, preparing them to ideate innovative urban solutions. This multi-level strategy transforms youth engagement from isolated actions into a sustained, citywide movement, ensuring that young people remain central to decision-making.

FMS further applies their ‘Theory U’ methodology in Envigado, adapting it to the city’s history of violence to help young people look inward, deconstruct inherited prejudices, and feel empowered to shape the realities they live in. Creative, performance-based techniques such as the ‘Theatre of Presence’ kickstart stakeholder engagement and participatory data collection. The city’s Innovation Engine employs a retreat-based model that provides dedicated spaces for young people to reflect on pressing concerns and collaboratively co-develop solutions. Pilot ideas culminate in Challenge Days, where young people pitch their proposals to a panel of experts. Through the innovation engine, twelve youth-led initiatives were funded and mentored to strengthen their impact and sustainability. 

After four years of implementation, efforts now centre on strengthening select youth initiatives and providing training on organisational development, strategic alliances, resource mobilisation, and impact measurement. Methodological transfers prepare young people for active participation in Municipal Youth Council elections. The programme continues to bridge the trust gap with young people, establish strong intersectoral partnerships, and foster an ecosystem of changemakers committed to building a more inclusive and safer Envigado.