Young people design solutions to promote wellbeing in the cities with IN-HABIT

Young people design solutions to promote wellbeing in the cities with IN-HABIT

Design for Change Spain has participated in the regional Hearth Summit Malaysia 2024 to disseminate IN-HABIT project!

On November 21, 2024, the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá became a hub for international collaboration as it hosted a pivotal seminar for the IN-HABIT Project. This event brought together researchers, local leaders, and policymakers from Colombia, Spain, and Italy to explore replicability—how strategies for inclusive urban health and well-being can adapt to diverse contexts.

The President of DFC Spain, Miguel Luengo, has traveled to Kuala Lumpur to present (off-schedule) the IN-HABIT project and the actions we are carrying out within the project. The audience included teachers and students from Malaysia, Vietnam, and Armenia.

The hosted of the event were the Wellbeing Project and Impact Hub Kuala Lumpur, a part of the global network of collaborative spaces and a community of entrepreneurs, innovators, and changemakers dedicated to addressing social, environmental, and economic challenges, where organizations to connect, share ideas, and co-create solutions that drive positive change.

As the organizers said:

This year’s edition of Hearth Summit Malaysia has enabled the opportunity to plant the seeds for meaningful conversations, and lay the foundation for collective efforts to achieve wellbeing for people and the planet through

• Inspiring Keynotes: Hear from global thought leaders shaping the future of wellbeing and sustainability.
• Engaging Panels: Explore solutions for planetary and societal wellbeing with diverse perspectives.
• Interactive Workshops: Get hands-on with strategies to amplify impact in your work and community.
• Immersive Local Experiences: Dive deep into Malaysia’s culture, sustainability practices, and wellbeing innovations.

The event has shined a spotlight on the importance on investing in individual wellbeing as a strategic focus for advancing welldoing for people and the planet”.

In this summit dedicated to the wellbeing of people and the planet, founded on an integral respect for ecological belonging, Design for Change Spain had a spot to facilitated an activity based on the “Five Ways Of Wellbeing” or WOW: a set of evidence-based recommendations to engage in activities for improving mental health and wellbeing. These ways are: Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning, and Give.

This technique is widely recognized as an effective strategy to boost happiness, reduce stress, and improve emotional health. By incorporating these five simple actions into your daily life, you can build a more balanced and fulfilling life.

The IN-HABIT activity carried out at the summit

In the Hearth Summit Malaysia, Miguel Luengo facilitated an IN-HABIT activity based on the “Five Ways Of Wellbeing”. He gave the participants a “Five Ways Of Wellbeing” tool using the DFC Methodology framework: Feel, Imagine, Do, Evoluate and Share.

FEEL STEP: What do you know about your surroundings? Choose a focus, Gain understanding and Generate a challenge

• Prepare yourself through a deep breathing
• Choose one of the options of the “Five Ways Of Wellbeing”: Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning, and Give.
• Connect with something you care about through a small visualization of the chosen framework.
• Identify the images that come to your mind once you are connected with the framework.
• Open yourself to different perspectives.
• Among the identified images, choose one.
• Discuss the image to clarify what makes it important for you.
• From the conversation with yourself, create a challenge that helps you to identify solutions.

IMAGINE STEP: Propose many ideas, Choose the best solutions, Create a prototype, Define your proposal and Create an action plan 

• Move a little to shift the energy.
• Provide ideas for solving the proposed challenge.
• Offer wild ideas to solve the challenge.
• Select one idea.
• Imagine yourself carrying out that idea.
• Describe what you plan to do based on what you imagined.
• Identify what you need to put it into practice.

DO STEP: Take action

• Carry out the activity.

EVOLUATE STEP: Reflect on your experience

• How do you assess the activity you performed?

SHARE STEP: Show your “project”

• Share your experience with someone. What you have done is important and can inspire other people.

Incorporating this DFC tool into your daily routine can have a significant impact on your overall health and happiness. By connecting with others, staying active, practicing mindfulness, learning new things, and giving to others, you can improve your mental and emotional wellbeing and lead a more fulfilling life.