Rafelbunyol has been the host this weekend of the first Incluseu event, in which 8 European cities have participated with an attendance of more than a hundred people from a variety of fields and ages in the town.
Our town, as a leader of the project, has had the honor of starting the project with the kick-of. In the following 24 months, 7 international events will take place in the different countries involved.
The conference was held from the 9th to the 12th of March, and combined cultural exchange, debate and intercultural reflection. At the event, 20 participants from Lași (Romania), Budapest (Hungary), Fingal County Council (Ireland), Deão (Portugal), Rzeszów (Poland), Molfetta (Italy) and Herleen City Council (The Netherlands) attended, together with 35 young people from Rafelbunyol, speakers and assistants, the interesting presentations and round tables about the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economic, personal and social development of young people.
Important talks were remarkable such as the one on mental health given by Rafael Tabarés-Seisdedos, on solidarity youth initiatives with Joves en Marxa or the CLIA of Rafelbunyol or conferences on solidarity and diversity with the participation of INJUVE, the Volunteering platform of the Valencian Community, Caritas and the Spanish Red Cross, combined with open debates and cultural exchange activities such as a demonstration of Valencian Pilota (local traditional sport), a visit to our falla and performances of our cultural roots and festivals such as Sant Antoni, Dansà Valenciana, concerts of Tabal i Dolçaina or traditional singing, among others.
«The best thing about this project has been the enrichment, the result of the exchange, and seeing the absolute involvement of our youth, an active and involved youth, with great proposals for improvement and the will to move towards a more inclusive society. After this weekend we are very clear that we could not have chosen better international agents to represent Rafelbunyol in Europe» assures Fran López, Mayor of Rafelbunyol.
«With this project we have established a new perspective in the dialogue on the future of Europe where young people are the engine of change. We are proud to receive congratulations from the partner countries of the project for the great work done. We would like to thank them for their involvement and active participation in all the activities we have proposed to them. Of course, we would also like to thank all the local associations that have contributed to show our European neighbors the traditions and culture of our town», says Rosa Azor, Councillor for Youth.