Methodological proposal to analyze the participation of children in territorial planning in the city of Valparaíso, Chile

Identifier:  imarina:9411540

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina9411540

Authors:  Catalán MC

Abstract:
The methodological design of the doctoral research currently in progress, initiated in 2022, is presented, which aims to assess the participation of children in the territorial planning of the city of Valparaíso, Chile, in order to contribute to the exercise of children’s citizenship in the configuration of cities. Chile is organized administratively in regions, provinces and communes. The territorial administration, at the national level is supported by ministries and ministerial undersecretariats, at the regional level it is the regional government with the support of the ministerial regional secretariats (SEREMI) and public services, at the local level it is in charge of the municipalities (local governments). Land use planning is carried out at the national, regional, metropolitan (intercommunal) and local (commune/municipality) levels. The country has an urban planning system that is operationalized through territorial planning instruments (IPT) that link administrative organization and territorial planning with the legal framework that regulates it. The commune of Valparaíso is a city located in the central zone of Chile. Geographically, it is characterized as a coastal bay that sits on a series of hills and ridges that rise abruptly from sea level. The commune has a total area of 401.6 km2, has four urban areas, the city of Valparaíso and the sectors of Placilla de Peñuelas, Curauma and Laguna Verde. The research process is developed from interrelated phases: 1) background review for the construction of the object of study; 2) definition of research tools (analysis of As an advance of the research, considering the development phase indicated, it is identified that territorial planning in the city of Valparaíso presents experiences of child participation associated with urban design, as well as their participation in diagnoses for the formulation of the current Commune Development Plan (PLADECO 2020-2030). In addition to the above, the social presence of an adult-centered culture in the formulation of the city’s and the country’s planning instruments can be appreciated. Citizen participation in territorial management is seen to be limited and focused on the diagnostic phases and scarce or non-existent in decision making, follow-up and evaluation. The contribution of child participation in territorial planning for the sustainable development of cities at the international level is evident. The methodology developed would make it possible to identify children’s meanings regarding the city, significant public spaces, as well as proposals associated with the care and renovation of urban infrastructure. The use of plastic resources and materials complementary to the guiding questions to facilitate the development of the activities is seen as a facilitator. Recommendations are made for research with children, from protagonic logics, which allow sustaining the pertinence, relevance and innovation of the methodological proposal, consistent with the background of the research problem.