Colmenar Viejo Town Hall, through the Youth and Childhood Department, has launched the Commission for the Participation of Children and Adolescents (COPIA), a body for children aged 8 to 17 to express their ideas and proposals. Registrations will open on 8 September.
The Youth and Childhood Department of Colmenar Viejo Town Hall has created the Commission for the Participation of Children and Adolescents, known by its acronym COPIA. This new municipal body aims to give a voice to the youngest residents of the municipality, allowing them to express their ideas, concerns, and proposals regarding local public life.
According to the Councillor for Youth and Childhood, Enrique Navarro Hermosilla, COPIA was established to comply with the Law on the Rights of Children and Adolescents, as well as to promote spaces for listening and participation for children and adolescents. “We want to listen to them and involve them in municipal life, because their opinions also matter when it comes to building a better municipality for everyone,” the councillor stated.
The initiative is aimed at minors aged between 8 and 17 who are registered or schooled in Colmenar Viejo. Two groups have been established: COPIA Infancy, for children aged 8 to 12, and COPIA Adolescence, for young people aged 13 to 17. Each group will be composed of a presidency, which will be held by the director of La Casa de la Juventud, a secretary, and 20 members, who will be the participants themselves.
The registration period will open on 8 September through a form available on the Town Hall's website. The activity is free and will take place between October 2026 and June 2027, with monthly sessions on the first Wednesday of each month, following the school calendar. Meetings will be held at La Casa de la Juventud in Colmenar Viejo.
In addition to the monthly meetings, the programme includes two institutional meetings throughout the year. The first, in January, will see the COPIA members present their proposals to the Town Hall. The second, in June, will serve to respond to the initiatives raised, review the work done, and share the project's results.
Navarro emphasised that this project could become an important tool for the future, as the existence of child participation bodies is one of the requirements for recognition as a Child-Friendly City, promoted by UNICEF. With this initiative, the Town Hall reinforces its commitment to children and adolescents, promoting real and inclusive participation where all minors, including those with special needs or disabilities, can feel heard and be protagonists.
Participants will be able to register through educational centres, AMPAs, sports clubs, and other entities in the municipality, in addition to the online form. Once the commission is formed, the members will take on a leading role, conveying their proposals and concerns about the issues that affect them and participating in adapted dynamics and activities that will allow them to debate, develop proposals, and work together to bring their initiatives to the Town Hall.
For more information, interested parties can contact La Casa de la Juventud in Colmenar Viejo or consult the municipal website. Registrations will remain open until the 20 members per group are filled.
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