RECOLETA Neighborhoods OF CARE

Urban 95, Van Leer Foundation

Project Summary
Implementation of the “Careful Neighborhoods” project in Chile: Project Consolidation Phase in Valdivia and New Pilots in Santiago. The project involved designing and implementing a new pilot using the Care Proximity Guide*, now in Santiago at the Municipality of Recoleta, while also supporting the technical advancement of the project previously developed in Valdivia, in southern Chile.

*The Care Proximity Design Guide (PoC) is a tool developed by ARUP and the Van Leer Foundation to support the design and implementation of child- and family-friendly interventions in vulnerable urban environments, benefiting the entire community.

Key Approach
Work was carried out with the San Felipe de Neri School, a semi-public school in Recoleta that has developed various projects with the Mustakis Foundation. The access to the school and the opportunity to work with Kindergarten students were crucial to the project.

Establishing trust and a shared goal with the school principal and teachers was the first step in developing a plan. The school staff acted as the link to the children's caregivers to obtain consent to work with them and involve the adults in the project.

Objectives
The Careful Neighborhood project in Recoleta aims to bring about a material change to the public space near the school. This public space functions as a waiting area for caregivers when they pick up their children after school but does not offer opportunities for children to play. It is a missed opportunity for children and caregivers to meet and gather.

Outcomes
The main outcomes of the project are as follows:

  • Recognizing the children's attachment to the space outside their school.

  • Recognizing their right to the city by emphasizing the importance of space appropriation for what they want to do in it.

  • Making their right to participate effective by implementing a participatory process to decide what they want in their space.

  • Improving the play infrastructure for Kindergarten students.

  • Providing a space for caregivers to accompany their children in play.

  • Giving identity to the space.