Urban and Youth Transformations in Envigado: Connection with Oneself, Others, and the Environment

Abstract

The S²Cities programme implemented in Envigado, Colombia, promotes youth leadership and participation in transforming public space, strengthening social cohesion, and improving security. This case study applies a qualitative methodology to explore the programme’s development and impact, structured across three interconnected levels: individual, relational, and structural.
At the individual level, the analysis focuses on enhancing youth leadership, critical thinking, and decision-making skills, fostering autonomy and self-confidence. The relational level emphasises trust-building among youth, the community, and local institutions, facilitating collaboration and strengthening networks to sustain collective action. The structural level examines how youth participation influences institutional practices and public policies, contributing to long-term social transformation.
Trust emerges as a pivotal factor throughout the analysis — both as an essential foundation for collaboration and as a key outcome, ensuring the sustainability and scalability of youth-led initiatives. The study underscores that empowering young people as active agents of change enables them to influence not only their immediate environment but also broader governance structures, promoting more inclusive and participatory urban spaces.