Coalition Member Organization, Despacio, Promotes Road Safety through Muros Que Hablan

Despacio is a research center based in Bogota, Colombia that promotes the quality of life by creating humane, friendly, and sustainable cities. One of its projects, Vivo Mi Calle or Live My Street, seeks to improve health, quality of life, and the mobility experience of students aged 10 to 15. To achieve this goal, Despacio will plan, design, and develop safer routes with stakeholders of the community.

Despacio has launched Muros Que Hablan or The Walls Speak. The Muros Que Hablan project was created to develop an urban artistic intervention through graffiti or mural format so that it generates collective awareness on road safety in Bogota. 

Despacio’s Project Coordinator, Laura Daniela Gomez, shares that urban art and graffiti have intermingled and have become useful tools in promoting concept, vocation, and advocacy. 

Photo from Despacio

“
Graffiti is no longer a product totally linked to crime, deterioration and vandalism, it has become a cultural and artistic manifestation that transforms urban environments and gives them a new meaning. Inspired by this transformation, the project Muros que hablan was created.
”

— Despacio Project Advisor, Maryfely Rincón

Muros Que Hablan is structured in three strategic phases; the planning phase, the artistic intervention, and the analysis of the project’s impact. 

The project begins by sending out a call to invite local artists to participate in the project by sending out their graffiti proposals. For this, Despacio used social media and other networks to engage and connect with creatives who can make Muros Que Hablan a reality. 

Once a winner has been chosen based on the proposals, the next phase will continue. Phase 2, artistic intervention, will be launched on 14 November 2022 where local artists will create the graffiti design on a public wall in the local city district of Teusaquillo. Materials will be provided for the winner.

The final project will be executed in partnership with youth-led project, Jóvenes por la Vida (Youth for Life). 

During the final stage, Despacio will evaluate the project by analyzing its impacts on the community and the learnings that participants and other members of the community have gathered. 

 Muros Que Hablan is one of the creative ways in which youth are raising awareness on issues surrounding safer roads and sustainable mobility. Be part of the movement today by connecting with us and joining the Coalition! #ClaimingOurSpace!