Murcia (Spain) is a "young city", although it has almost 1.200 years of history. Its 400.000 inhabitants transform it into the 7th Spanish city. Around 25% of the population, that is to say 100.000, are between 14 and 29 years old. The Youth Office of the Murcia City Council is the Department that carries out municipal projects of the youth, and it is necessary to highlight its high-priority objectives:
-To increase the participation of youth in all social areas, promote the youth associations as concrete element of participation, facilitating appropriate channels, means and resources.
- To develop alternatives for the leisure and free time of youth during the weekends that serve as an element of prevention of risks.
- To promote artistic, cultural and educational youth creativity by means of promotion and diffusion of activities. - To energize the educational space and to propitiate the integral formation of the students, promoting activities complementary to the academic performances.
- To inform the youth on topics or matters of interest, as well as to advise them on questions of juridical, sexual character, housing, etc., and if necessary a consultation with specialist or professionals in the field of interest.
- To promote performances that favour the movement of the youth from the municipality to the European reality.
- To offer alternative activities during the free time of teenagers (between 12 and 15 years), providing them with an opportunity to be in contact with other young people and involve them into preserving the environment by means of educating them about the nature.