'We Propose': Elda Students to Analyse the City and Offer Solutions

The Department of Education in Elda, in collaboration with IES La Melva and the University of Alicante, has launched the educational project 'We Propose'. The Councillor for Education, María Gisbert, together with Isabel Gómez, Vice Dean of Postgraduate, Research and Transfer at the Faculty of Education at the University of Alicante; Isabel Coves, Director of IES La Melva, and Jaume Pérez, a teacher at the same school, announced this initiative, which will take place on June 11 at the Shoe Museum's auditorium.

María Gisbert explained that the project "encourages student participation in improving the city and society by proposing solutions and initiatives." She urges "all city institutes to join this project in which IES La Melva is a pioneer."

The councillor indicated that "this activity is closely linked to the ongoing work from the Department of Youth, through the Children's and Youth Council, where efforts are also made to gather proposals for city improvement and understanding."

Isabel Gómez expressed gratitude and explained that the project "encourages building a local territory where young people participate, in this case through the institutes." It aims to "promote the participation of students from different educational levels, analysing, researching, and proposing local solutions from an interdisciplinary perspective and working as a team."

Jaume Pérez stated that "the project is based on the objectives of the 2030 Agenda and involves the analysis of the city by 2nd-year ESO students. We have divided the city into neighbourhoods, each assigned to different working groups, with a questionnaire for fieldwork. Questions include the origin of the neighbourhood, its geographical situation, the deficiencies and needs of the residents, etc."

The teacher explained that "the students have made improvement proposals, developing their critical awareness and, at the same time, getting to know their city, talking to people in the neighbourhoods and interacting with others living in the same city. In the end, they have prepared a presentation to be unveiled on the 11th."