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Quito’s Historic Center isn’t preserved by policy alone — it’s cared for one small act at a time. This is the story of a volunteer day that proved just that.
Being a good neighbor means caring for the place we share. And sometimes, caring means something as concrete as picking up a paintbrush, planting a geranium, organizing a donation, or dedicating a few hours to working alongside those who keep Quito’s Historic Center alive.
That’s what we experienced during our volunteer day at the Albergue San Juan de Dios shelter, alongside collaborators from Metropolitan Touring and Casa Gangotena, representatives of the shelter, and the De Vuelta al Centro team.
Caring Also Means Being Present
During the day, we painted 327 square meters of facades, planted 500 geraniums in public spaces, and helped sort clothing and food donated to the shelter. These are concrete results, but behind each one is something more important: people meeting, talking, learning about other realities, and putting their abilities at the service of a shared purpose. Because when we share a space, we also share a responsibility.
The work of the Albergue San Juan de Dios allowed us to get closer to a reality that often remains invisible and to recognize the enormous value of those who work every day to support people in vulnerable situations. It also helped us understand that a partnership doesn’t necessarily start with a big project. Sometimes it starts with something much simpler: getting to know each other, listening, and deciding that we want to walk this path together.
Being a Good Neighbor
For Casa Gangotena, being a Good Neighbor stems from a conviction: it’s not enough to be located in the Historic Center — we want to be part of it. Our connection to this heritage space goes far beyond the hotel’s location. It means engaging with those who live and work here, listening to their needs, recognizing their abilities, and, from our role, contributing to strengthening the neighborhood’s social and economic fabric. That’s why, when we talk about revitalizing the Historic Center, we’re not just talking about restored facades or more beautiful spaces. We’re also talking about opportunities: businesses that stay open, entrepreneurs who build their skills, local suppliers who find new opportunities, and communities that feel part of the development of their own territory.
Physical recovery and people’s well-being must advance together. A city flourishes when its spaces are cared for, but also when the people who inhabit them feel recognized, supported, and part of a community.
A Story Built Close to Home
This event is part of a journey that Casa Gangotena has been on for several years, alongside various actors in the Historic Center. Together with De Vuelta al Centro, we have supported 91 emblematic businesses in the old colonial quarter. 20% of the hotel’s food purchases come from local suppliers just 500 steps away, and 28 culinary entrepreneurs have received training and mentorship to strengthen their businesses and showcase Ecuadorian cuisine. We have also helped plant more than 25,000 geraniums in the Historic Center over the years.
Partnerships Make Caring Grow
Our day with the Albergue San Juan de Dios also reminded us of something essential: sustainable change is rarely built alone. It’s built when a company, a social organization, a work team, and a community find a common purpose. The participation of De Vuelta al Centro and the commitment of our collaborators turned a volunteer day into more than a one-off activity — an opportunity to connect, learn, and build a new collaborative relationship.
We want this to be the start of a bond that grows over time, one that allows us to keep offering resources, knowledge, skills, and above all, willingness.
Being a Neighbor Is a Choice
At the end of the day, one image stayed with me: many people working together for the same place. Some with paintbrushes. Others are planting geraniums. Others are organizing donations. All doing something different, but with the same intention: being present.
Being a good neighbor means looking around and asking ourselves what we can do to make the place we share a little better. That’s how the Historic Center is cared for: by staying close, listening, collaborating, and doing our part. Because caring for a destination also means caring for its people — and for Casa Gangotena, being a Good Neighbor means exactly that: being here, being part of this community, and helping the Historic Center continue to flourish.
