WARMI VIVAMENTE

Period of Execution

Ongoing.

Partners

RED FAVIFE – Universidad de Cuenca (UCUENCA) – PREIT tour

Area of Study

An interdisciplinary project connecting the fields of Tourism, Gastronomy, and Psychology at the Universidad de Cuenca, developed in collaboration with the FAVIFE Foundation and articulated through PREIT-tour as part of the university’s community engagement activities.

Introduction

Warmi VivaMente is a social outreach initiative designed to support female students from outside the city who pursue their studies at the Universidad de Cuenca while living independently.

The program seeks to enhance their quality of life by addressing emotional well-being, strengthening personal safety and autonomy, promoting healthy lifestyles, and facilitating cultural integration into the urban environment of Cuenca.

This initiative reflects the university’s broader mission to educate professionals committed to improving quality of life and contributing to a more equitable and supportive society through interdisciplinary knowledge and social engagement.

Program Description

In addition to learning about available institutional and community support networks and how to access them, participating students engage in a series of formative and experiential activities:

• Workshops on gender-based violence prevention and awareness, aligned with global efforts toward gender equality and the eradication of violence against women (SDG 5).

• Personal safety and empowerment training, including practical self-defense sessions that strengthen confidence, autonomy, and the capacity to respond to risk situations.

• Guided cultural and tourist routes within Cuenca, enabling students to better understand their surroundings, connect with local heritage, and develop a sense of belonging to the city.

• Healthy and mindful eating workshops, where participants learn to prepare nutritious, affordable meals adapted to student life, reinforcing sustainable habits that benefit both physical and emotional health.

• Mindfulness and emotional well-being sessions, providing practical tools to manage stress, improve concentration, and cultivate awareness in daily life.

Through this combination of psychological support, experiential learning, and cultural engagement, the project creates a holistic environment that promotes resilience, autonomy, and mutual support among participants.

Purpose and Impact

Warmi VivaMente aims to create a safe and empowering space where young women can strengthen their personal development while building supportive peer networks. By integrating tourism, gastronomy, and psychosocial approaches, the initiative demonstrates how university-community collaboration can contribute to sustainable social development and position women as active agents of change within their academic and social environments.

Ultimately, the program fosters respect, solidarity, and inclusion, contributing to a university community that is more aware, connected, and responsive to the realities faced by students who relocate to pursue higher education.