On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, ASEZ Chapter in Uruguay carried out a “Reduce Crime Together (RCT)” Mural Painting Project applying Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles at Liceo Nº 3 Dámaso A. Larrañaga (Dámaso A. Larrañaga Third High School) in Montevideo.
The school is located in a central living area of Montevideo that includes neighborhoods such as La Blanqueada, where residential and commercial zones are mixed. With major roads and educational facilities concentrated in the area, there is heavy pedestrian traffic from students and local residents. As a result, how the surrounding street environment is managed has a significant impact on perceptions of safety.
This project aimed to improve student safety and reduce crime-related factors by removing illegal graffiti from an aging exterior wall and transforming it into a mural with bright, positive messages. A total of 15 participants, including ASEZ members and local citizens, took part in the activity. In a lively atmosphere, volunteers began in the morning by cleaning pollutants from the wall and completing basic preparation work, followed by sketching and painting the mural.
The mural depicts a warm and vibrant scene featuring a harmonious family alongside various flowers. As the wall—once neglected and covered in dark graffiti—was transformed into a mural filled with bright colors and positive imagery, the area around the school was reshaped into a space where students and residents could feel safer and more at ease. This transformation is regarded as a practical on-site example of CPTED’s core principle: reducing crime opportunities and increasing users’ sense of safety through improvements to the physical environment.
During the project, neighbors passing by the school encouraged the volunteers as they witnessed the brightening surroundings, expressing their expectations and support, which further warmed the atmosphere. The project was also supported by the CH Municipality in Montevideo, one of the city’s eight basic administrative districts. The municipality provided supplies such as paint, brushes, and rollers, and Matilde Antía, Head of the CH Municipality, personally visited the site to encourage the volunteers.
Antía stated, “We always welcome volunteers, who come to help the community, with open arms. Maintaining and beautifying public spaces is a very important task for us, and activities like this—covering graffiti and leaving positive messages—bring meaningful change to local residents.” She added, “We sincerely thank ASEZ. ASEZ is working together with us to manage public spaces in the CH district. Thank you to everyone.”
The principal of Liceo Nº 3 Dámaso A. Larrañaga also visited the site and thanked the volunteers, saying, “Thank you for coming in person to improve our school environment.” The principal expressed joy that students could now spend time in a safer and more pleasant space and added, while looking at the mural, “This will be a great source of encouragement for our students.”
Facundo Jorge (23), who participated in the volunteer work, shared, “It was a meaningful experience to take part in the process of transforming a space with our own hands.” Pierina Carrizo (25) said, “Working together with other young people toward the same goal made me feel a strong sense of energy and connection.”
Following the activity, the CH Municipality presented ASEZ Chapter in Uruguay with an official certificate of appreciation in recognition of ASEZ’s continued volunteer service in the community and the contributions of this project.
ASEZ continues CPTED initiatives in several South American countries, including Uruguay, Argentina, Peru, and Chile, and also leads international crime-prevention efforts, such as hosting forums on crime prevention and human trafficking at UCLA in the United States. In General Santos, Philippines, ASEZ has expanded youth-led prevention efforts through RCT School activities aimed at reducing school violence.
Building on this project, ASEZ Chapter in Uruguay plans to expand RCT School and RCT Campus education programs for youth and university students, fostering a culture of voluntary crime prevention and empowering future generations to take the lead.