In the neighbourhoods across the five districts of Santa Cruz, youth activities are no longer sporadic or limited to specific dates. Throughout 2025, the District Youth programme, initiated by the city council through the Education and Youth Department, has woven a continuous network of proposals, transforming squares, civic centres, and natural spaces into meeting points for young people. More than just an activity schedule, what has emerged is a new way of inhabiting the city: more participatory, closer, and tailored to each neighbourhood.
Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez highlights that “District Youth demonstrates that when real opportunities are created, the youth respond. This programme enables us to be present in all neighbourhoods, offering alternatives for healthy leisure, training, and communal living, contributing to the personal development of our young people and the strengthening of social cohesion in the city.”
“We are not just talking about activities,” continues Bermúdez, “but about a city model that invests in its youth, listens to them, and provides spaces for them to grow, participate, and feel like active parts of their environment.”
Meanwhile, Councillor for Youth, Charín González, notes that “the success of District Youth lies in its ability to adapt to the realities of each neighbourhood and the interests of the youth, offering diverse proposals that combine training, creativity, leisure, and community.” She emphasises that “we have managed to consolidate a programme that not only encourages participation but also creates a community, promotes values such as respect and inclusion, and supports young people in their personal and social development from a close and participatory perspective.”
This continuous presence across all districts has been a key element of the programme. Rather than offering a homogeneous agenda, the activities have been tailored to the characteristics of each area, enabling young people to find options that suit their interests, whether in cultural, educational, or leisure contexts. The result is a stronger connection with the environment and a sense of belonging that transcends individual activities.
Over the past year, a total of 2,494 young people participated in the programme, a figure that not only reflects the increased demand but also the loyalty of those who return, finding in District Youth a stable space. Behind this number lies more than mere participation: there is continuity, trust, and the consolidation of a space perceived as belonging to them.
The Youth Houses, both Mascareño and Lázaro Siliuto, as well as spaces in the TEA and the Central Municipal Library, and community centres in the neighbourhoods host most of the programme’s activities, with a schedule tailored to each month of the year.
Among the most successful proposals are those that take young people out of familiar surroundings and connect them with nature. Excursions to Siam Park, boat trips to Antequera, visits to the Palmetum, routes in Teide, or hikes in Anaga have been some of the most popular activities. In these activities, leisure combines with shared experiences, environmental discovery, and awareness.
Workshops
Training and creative workshops have gained prominence within the programme, especially those related to aesthetics and artistic disciplines. In these spaces, young people not only learn techniques but also find channels for self-expression, experimentation, and identity development. These proposals also directly impact self-esteem and the construction of their own narratives.
Creative courses, dancing, and academic reinforcement initiatives take place in youth participation spaces across different neighbourhoods and facilities in the city, bringing together a broad offering for young people aimed at fostering community, creativity, training, and active participation.
Another cornerstone of the programme has been communal living. Camps and activities at Las Teresitas Beach have served as settings where young people from different districts meet, share, and form connections. In these contexts, learning extends beyond the formal; it is built through experience, teamwork, and everyday interaction.
Overall, District Youth has evolved since 2025 into a more integrated model, intertwining leisure, training, and participation. It is not merely about providing leisure alternatives but about creating safe, inclusive, and dynamic spaces that accompany young people in their personal and social development. Over time, the programme has transformed from just another initiative into a benchmark of youth life. A space where they can grow, share, and be part of a community infused with youthful vitality.
The Youth House of the Southwest is on the Way
The municipal programme District Youth in Santa Cruz, aimed at those aged 14 to 30, started in 2016, led by the Youth Department of the City Council. After a temporary interruption, the initiative was reactivated in May 2022 and remains active today with an extensive free programme.
The next step will be to reach the Southwest, where the City Council is already working on renovating the old Crea Hogar building in El Sobradillo, which will house the future Youth House projected for 2027.
