In 2007 the City of Ávila, initiated the "Patrimonitos Programme" in collaboration with Excmo Heritage Council, the town council, the schools and institutes of the town to promote the knowledge of World Heritage. Using the UNESCO "The World Heritage in Young Hands" Kit and to get the interest of young students, they organized conferences for students between 11 and 17 years old who participated in debates, visit World Heritage sites, do role plays and other activities aimed to raise their awareness of the importance of the World Heritage
The municipality of Ávila aims to develop a network among young people committed to the protection of the heritage. The Patrimonitos Programme is coordinated by the town council with the support of the Spanish Department of Culture. The Town Council also collaborates with the city of Aranjuez and Vizcaya Bridge Society.
2010 Youth activities in Avila
On 6 April 2010, 325 students from UNESCO associated schools in Madrid and 150 young people from Ávila participated in theDía del Monumento y los Sitios Declarados (Monuments and Declared Sites day), through World Heritage-related activities organized by the Municipality of Ávila. The theme of the event was Heritage and Agriculture. On the same day, the young people joined in celebrating Ávila Única, the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the inscription of Ávila on the World Heritage List. These events launched a week of activities for the young participants.
Miguel Ángel García Nieto, Mayor of Ávila, together with D. Enrique Maestu, Director of Virgen de Europa school (Madrid), welcomed all the students to the event which was held at the San Francisco auditorium. Álvaro García Garcinuño, Director of Diocesano School (Ávila), spoke on behalf of all the 'Patrimonitos' of Ávila (young people active in the city's Patrimonito project linked to the UNESCO World Heritage Education Programme).
Over the following days, the students participated in workshops and discussions on the relationship of the city to agriculture. With the collaboration of technicians and the City Council's Civil Protection unit, they visited Ávila and its medieval wall, learning about the history of this city of saints and monuments. The visit ended at Bóvedas del Carmen (Vaults of el Carmen) with an exhibition of recent archeological remains.
The young participants shared their impressions of the activities by writing articles published in the Diario de Ávila (Ávila newspaper).
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