The neighbourhood environment can influence the relational wellbeing of young people, yet this critical aspect remains understudied in the Global South. However, several researchers have highlighted that young people in these regions frequently resort to high-risk and sometimes illegal strategies to survive (Tokman, 2007; Sanchez, 2006).

This gap in research underscores the scientific importance of the proposed project in gaining an understanding of neighbourhoods as ecosystems that provide community-based protection and support for navigating life’s challenges. Ecuador in northwestern South America presents an important case study for examining the relationship between neighbourhoods and relational wellbeing.

The surge in violence in Ecuador over the past five years has highlighted the critical role of public spaces in neighbourhoods. These areas can unfortunately also be recruitment grounds for gangs or cartels targeting children.

Aspects such as the critical need for establishing safe routes to school or developing practical community tools to improve neighbourhood security have not been adequately researched in the region.

The scientific significance of this proposal also lies in its methodological contribution. While research instruments will be developed throughout the process, they will be designed to also be applicable in other contexts and cities to allow for further comparative studies. The instruments will have to be innovative, particularly considering the complex research environment, and youth oriented, so that young people’s voices are taken into account as their wellbeing is assessed.

In order to relate the context (city) and the type of neighbourhood to the relational wellbeing of young people in the selected case studies, 2 variables must be measured: a) type of neighbourhood, b) relational wellbeing. To measure the type of neighbourhood a graphic analysis of plan-view frames will be carried out for physical and spatial characteristics, and social dynamics related to the use and appropriation of urban space will be analysed by mapping the activities of young people at different times of the day. To measure the relational wellbeing, self-report scales will be administered to assess the levels of social and psychological wellbeing among the participants.

Finally, for the last stage which consists on the implementation and evaluation of interventions a participatory approach named urban pedagogy will be applied, based on a six-phase methodology: screening (diagnosis), picturing (conceptualisation), zooming in (design), capturing (construction and implementation), revealing (celebration) and zooming out (evaluation).

The aim is to understand how different types of neighbourhoods affect the relational wellbeing of young people, based on case studies developed in neighbourhoods in two Ecuadorian cities.

The specific objectives are to:

1. Identify, through a theoretical and state-of-the-art analysis, how relational wellbeing is constituted, what facilitates it, and the impact of neighbourhoods type on it
2. Relate the context (city) and the type of neighbourhood to the relational wellbeing of young people in the selected case studies
3. Implement and evaluate interventions based on the evidence obtained in the research stage

The project aims to help improve relational wellbeing among young people in the studied neighbourhoods, and demonstrate to policy-makers, researchers and practitioners the importance of the neighbourhood for relational wellbeing. The idea is to gain deeper insights into the root causes of social disparities and develop more effective strategies for promoting equity, inclusion and sustainability.

The strategic learning and evaluation strategy will be implemented throughout three key stages of the project: initial baseline assessments, ongoing monitoring and post-implementation evaluation. At the project’s inception, the researchers will conduct assessments to establish benchmarks for relational wellbeing and other key indicators within the target neighbourhoods. Surveys, interviews or focus groups will be employed to gather data on the current state of social relationships, community relations and youth perceptions of their urban environments.

Following the interventions, a final evaluation will assess the overall impact of the project. This will include a detailed comparison of the baseline data with the post-intervention results to measure changes in relational wellbeing. In addition, an in-depth analysis of the project’s outputs and outcomes will be performed to determine the effectiveness of the implemented strategies.