Andalusia welcomes UNICEF Child-Friendly Cities roadshow

 A UNICEF regional roadshow to promote its Child Friendly Cities (CFC) programme will hopefully inspire more cities across the southern Spanish state of Andalucia to get on board.

The new exhibition showcasing the opinions and input of the children of Andalucia kicked off a tour of the region, led by UNICEF representative Franciso Molina and provincial family delegate, Carmen Belen Lopez.

They presented the ‘Participacion Infantil en Andalucia’, and explained how it covers all the different initiatives across the region in which children participate as part of the UNICEF CFC programme, reports the Euro Weekly newspaper.

Showcasing opinions and input of children

Four locations in the province, which is one of Spain’s largest regions, are currently part of the programme: Almeria city, Huercal-Overa, Vicar and Vera. Two more, Alhama de Almeria and Adra, hope to join soon. The touring exhibition features 13 illustrated panels selected by the UNICEF Andalucia Committee from among hundreds of initiatives carried out by the region’s Infancy and Adolescence Local Councils.

Six of the panels focus on the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Others centre on the views and ideas put forward by councils’ young members to local authorities in representation of the youth of their areas.

‘Motivate child participation’

The exhibition is visiting 15 municipalities, starting this week in Fondon, before moving to Canjayar, Bayarcal, Arboleas, Tijola, Bayarque, Vera, Antas, Sorbas, Abrucena, Abla, Rioja, Huercal de Almería, Benahadux and Alhama de Almería between now and the beginning of April.

The Family delegate said she hoped the exhibition will ‘motivate child participation and show in the municipalities the importance of having a voice and of being listened to’.

Click here for more information on UNICEF’s Child Friendly Cities initiatives worldwide.