PROJECTS AWAITING FUNDING
We are a non-profit organization focuses on teaching and building citizenship through the participatory design tools that involve different community actors to transform public spaces. The organization develops training programs aimed at children between the ages of 9 and 13 who live in communities with the potential for transformation.
Our Methodology
We work under our own replicable and sustainable methodology, developed by our founder and director, Ana Vargas, during her postgraduate degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T), where participants and neighbors, decide through a democratic consultation the space to transform and the elements that will be part of it.
Observe
The first stage of the workshop introduces the participants to the concepts of public space and identity, using maps and cameras to analyze their community. This stage of the workshop ends with a public exhibition of maps, photographs and ideas to restore or create new public spaces, where the participating public chooses, by voting for the space of their preference, the place that will be transformed during the last phase.
Imagine
In this stage the participants design the interventions for the selected space that is in accordance with the cultural identity of the community. Neighbors are consulted through questionnaires about the space selected for intervention and finally, they make models representing all the ideas collected to be exhibited before the community so that they can vote for the elements and surfaces that are closest to their needs.
Transform
This stage focuses on executing the chosen designs with the participants, specialists in the subject and volunteers from the community. Finally, an opening ceremony for the space intervened is organized and it is important to invite the community at large to participate.
This methodology is internationally recognized and has been applied in India, United States, Chile, and Venezuela.
It has also been awarded by:
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T) as best Master’s Thesis.
- UN -Habitat Best Urban Practices, alongside the Municipality of Dubai.
- «Improving lives in the cities of Venezuela» by the IDB and Impact Hub Caracas.
- Recognition for collaboration in a safer and more Integrated Caracas by the Metropolitan Mayor of Caracas
- AFIELD Fellowship 2018, awarded for the development of a digital manual that will allow others to replicate the Trazando Espacios methodology in any other country.
With our work we contribute to the following Sustainable Development Goals
Our Scope
37
Benefited Communities
990
Children Participating
4080
People influenced
4393
Square Meters intervened
Recent Programs
Estrellas de Birongo Musical School
Birongo (TIS)
Miranda State
Venezuela.
A story for El Calvario
El Calvario (TEC)
El Hatillo Municipality
Caracas, Venezuela.
The little square of the Sun
El Calvario (TEP)
El Hatillo Municipality
Caracas, Venezuela.
Bay of Smiles Park
El Pilar (TEE)
Sucre State
Venezuela.
Andrés Mata Square
Carúpano (TEU)
Sucre State
Venezuela.
Park of the Colors
Naiguatá (TEP)
La Guaira
Venezuela.
Testimonials
Let’s build a school for Guaruchal!
