We began our fieldwork by interviewing the 25 young people in the URBANO programme, a placemaking and youth leadership experience that we are taking as a case study, as well as representatives from various departments of the Municipality of Cuenca in Ecuador. 

Interviews with young people took place between 11 May and 30 June at the offices of Bibliorío and Huasipichanga; municipal interviews took place between 6 and 8 May at each department’s office. More than interviews, these were spaces for dialogue with no right or wrong answers. We wanted to hear how each person understands relational wellbeing, and how public spaces, relationships and participation shape the everyday lives of young people.

What surprised us most was the depth of the responses we received. As Ana Pauta, 23, a visual arts graduate from Cuenca, put it, “Relational wellbeing means feeling safe within a space; to inhabit, to be present and to simply be. It’s easy to think from the ‘I, but real wellbeing also means thinking about the other.” And Danny Llivipuma, 26, a visual arts graduate from Cuenca, shared, “This project helped me build the confidence to express myself and connect with others. Here, I understood that wellbeing is also built when everyone feels part of a community.”

Young people are not only participants, but also protagonists, in a participatory documentary accompanying the research. We also held public-space activities, youth gatherings and review sessions, reinforcing one lesson: understanding relational wellbeing begins with listening. As part of an initiative connecting nine Global South countries, young people's voices remain the foundation for building healthier, more inclusive, more connected cities.