A group of students, ranging from 4th grade of Primary to 2nd grade of Secondary Education, from Utiel's various schools, took center stage at the Local Council for Children and Adolescents (CLIA) session. The aim of this institutional meeting was to give a voice to the youngest members in building a friendlier, more inclusive, and participatory municipality.
The young councilors were welcomed by the mayor of Utiel, Ricardo Gabaldón, and the Councilor for Education and Youth, Carmina Febré. They attentively listened to the minors' concerns regarding their fundamental rights and the needs identified in both the urban center and the villages. The primary premise conveyed by the minors was clear: to contribute their own perspective to design the future of the locality.
During the session, the schoolchildren presented a comprehensive list of proposals aimed at improving the municipality's daily life. In the leisure, parks, and facilities section, they requested the renovation of old playgrounds, the inclusion of spaces for older children, the installation of new sports options like municipal badminton, improvements to water fountains, and more trash bins. They also called for awareness campaigns on cleanliness, information to improve recycling, increased park lighting, and a wider range of activities for young people unable to access the youth center due to age restrictions. Additionally, they requested family leisure options during the Christmas season.
Regarding attention to the villages, the CLIA placed special emphasis on decentralization, requesting cultural and Christmas activities closer to homes, lighting improvements, facilities for using the football field in Los Corrales, and a greater presence of the Local Police to foster familiarity between officers and younger residents.
In terms of sustainability and mobility, proposed environmental and urban planning measures include planting trees to create new green areas, implementing a bike lane, and installing pending traffic lights to ensure greater road safety.
Concerning well-being and coexistence, the minors demanded a substantial improvement in prevention programs and review of protocols for addressing school bullying, requesting more information for students on how to act and whom to approach. They also requested the improvement of dog parks in both Utiel and its villages.
The Utiel City Council highly valued this forum for active participation, highlighting the maturity, commitment, and responsibility with which the young people presented their initiatives. The council pledges to study the proposals received to continue advancing hand in hand with children and adolescents in the constant improvement of the municipality.
